Find out what is the best shampoo for relaxed hair including sulfate-free, smoothening shampoos that help keep hair straight, silky and damage-free.
If you've used chemical treatments to straighten out your naturally curly hair, as a hairstylist, I always advise using the best shampoo for relaxed hair. Doing so helps repair any damage and keep your tresses soft and silky.
Using relaxers to straighten the hair alters the physical structure of the strands, straightening curly, coily hair. So these hair types are more prone to damage, breaking and split ends.
Here are some good shampoos for relaxed hair:
| Shampoos For Relaxed Hair | Best For | Chief Ingredients |
| Elasta QP Shampoo For Relaxed Hair | pH Balancing | Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil |
| MIZANI True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo | Sensitive Scalp | Olive Oil, Marula Seed Oil, Coconut Oil |
| Pantene Pro-V Truly Relaxed Hair Lightweight Shampoo | Dry Hair | Jojoba Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Citric Acid |
| Zotos Quantum Clarifying Shampoo | Greasy Scalp and Hair | Vitamin E, Vegetable Protein, Polyquaternium-10 And Sweet Almond Extract |
| Avlon Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo | Tangled Hair | Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Polyquaternium 10, Polyquaternium 7, Citric Acid |
| Pura D'or Scalp Therapy Shampoo | Dandruff Prone Hair | Biotin, Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Argan Oil |
| Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo | Frizzy Hair | Aloe vera, Rose, Calendula, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein |
| Paisle Biotin Thickening Shampoo | Thinning Hair | Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, Nettle Oil, Biotin, Caffeine |
| OGX Shampoo For Relaxed Hair | Damaged Hair | Keratin Protein, Argan Oil, Polyquaternium 10 |
I absolutely adore the MIZANI True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo for relaxed hair as it is sulfate-free and gentle on hair and also contains olive oil and marula oil that conditions hair. This oil-based formula helps moisturize hair, smoothens frizz and repairs damage.
Best Shampoo For Relaxed Hair 2024
Elasta QP Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
Best Neutralizing Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
The first best shampoo for relaxed hair on our list is the Elasta QP shampoo. Chemical treatments and coloring often disturb your scalps natural pH balance. But this product is the perfect neutralizing shampoo.
Its mild, vitamin-rich formula restores the pH of the scalp, and the olive oil helps condition the hair.
Olive oil has an emollient function that seals hydration inside the hair's cuticles and makes hair softer and it is also a source of antioxidants. (Mysore, Venkataram, and Arpita Arghya. “Hair Oils: Indigenous Knowledge Revisited.” International journal of trichology vol. 14,3 (2022): 84-90. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_189_20)
This shampoo also has a great slip and lathers easily in the shower. As it’s so moisturizing, the shampoo is great at detangling any knots and snags in your hair as well.
But we had just a teensy complaint about this product. We really wish it was sulfate-free. But it’s not.
So if you’ve got color-treated hair, we suggest you stay away from this shampoo as it can strip the strands of dye.
Pros:
- Helps detangle hair
- conditions the scalp
- adds smoothness to the hair
- Unisex
- made using gentle formula
Cons:
- Contains fragrance and color
MIZANI Shampoo For Relaxed Hair - True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo
Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
The one issue faced by relaxed hair is the lack of moisture and dryness. Enter the Mizani True Textures Moisture Replenish shampoo! We absolutely adore its nourishing properties.
The top ingredient on the list is coconut oil, which leaves your tresses conditioned, silky, and smooth.
Plus, the shampoo is completely free of sulfates, silicones, and parabens that are known to damage the dresses.
As it’s sulfate-free, you can use this shampoo on color-treated hair without a second thought.
What’s amazing about this shampoo is despite it being so super-moisturizing, it doesn’t leave your tresses greasy at all.
You’ll still find them bouncy and voluminous after shampooing. And we really like the coconut fragrance of this shampoo too.
Pros:
- Replenishes moisture
- reduces dryness
- contains nourishing ingredients like coconut oil
- conditions hair
- makes hair silky and smooth
- free of sulfate, silicone, and parabens
- can be used on color treated hair
- does not make hair greasy
- adds bounce and volume
Cons:
- None
Pantene Pro-V Truly Relaxed Hair Lightweight Shampoo
Best Moisturizing Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
The best shampoo for relaxed hair is the one that offers maximum nourishment and conditioning without weighing down your tresses.
And this Pantene Pro-V shampoo does exactly that!
This shampoo contains a moisturizing blend of jojoba oil and coconut oil that leaves your mane soft, silky, and smooth.
The formula is also packed with pro-vitamins and antioxidants that protect your hair from further damage.
If you live in a humid area, then this is the perfect product for you. The shampoo provides enough conditioning to keep your relaxed hair from getting frizzy.
But is the shampoo good for color-treated hair? We, unfortunately, have to say no. It contains SLS and SLES that can strip the hair of color.
So you should give it a miss if you have colored hair. It still might be suitable for sensitive scalp due to the addition of soothing panthenol.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Unisex
- safe for color treated hair
- protects hair from damage
- smoothens hair
Cons:
- Contains SLS, SLES, EDTA, and sodium chloride
Zotos Quantum Clarifying Shampoo
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
Just ask any top experts, and they’ll tell you how washing relaxed hair every day isn’t good for their health.
But when there’s just too much grease and product build-up, it can lead to dandruff and scalp inflammation.
And if you love going swimming or wash your hair with hard water, there are mineral deposits that form on your tresses too.
The best thing to do in this case is to use a clarifying and chelating shampoo like the Zotos Quantum Clarifying Shampoo.
It removes all the junk from your hair, leaving your follicles free to breathe. And the blend of polyquaternium-10, sweet almond oil, and vegetable protein help nourish and repair your relaxed tresses.
The cherry on the top that makes this the best shampoo for relaxed hair is its super affordable price. We approve!
Pros:
- Adds strength to hair
- color safe
Cons:
- Contains SLS
- added fragrance and color
Avlon Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo
Best Detangling Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
Don’t you just hate it when your hair gets all knotted and tangled up? Well, the Avlon Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo is here to fix that!
The shampoo contains hydrolyzed wheat protein and other ingredients that prevent friction between the hair fibers.
This helps in detangling your tresses and reducing breakage.
Those with color-treated hair will be happy to know that this shampoo is sulfate-free too!
It also cleanses the scalp without stripping it of its natural oils. So it’s a thumbs up from us!
Pros:
- helps to prevent flyaways
- reduces the number of split ends
- free of sulfates
- does not dry out hair
Cons:
- Contains EDTA
PURA D'OR Scalp Therapy Shampoo
Best Dandruff Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
Relaxed hair often falls into a vicious cycle. Shampooing too much can dry out your tresses.
And not shampooing enough can lead to flaky build-up and dandruff. The solution to this dilemma?
Using a good clarifying dandruff shampoo for relaxed hair. Just like this one by Pura D’or.
The scalp therapy shampoo contains a blend of tea tree oil, peppermint, cedarwood, and clary sage that leave the scalp squeaky clean.
Don’t worry about dryness, as there’s argan oil to nourish the strands.
Using this shampoo helps reduce dandruff, inflammation, and itching on the scalp.
Plus, it’s sulfate-free and totally gentle on relaxed hair.
Pros:
- Clarifying dandruff shampoo
- contains a blend of tea tree oil, peppermint, cedarwood, and clary sage
- helps to clean the scalp thoroughly
- reduces inflammation
- reduces itching
- free of sulfate
- gentle on hair
Cons:
- None
Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo
Best Hydrating Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
Carol’s Daughter is one of the best African American shampoo brands out there. So when it comes to relaxed hair, this is one of the best hydrating products out there.
The formulation is a blend of black vanilla, clover, rose, and aloe vera extracts.
While the aloe vera hydrates each strand, leaving it soft and smooth, the rose extracts leave behind a subtle, floral fragrance.
For that extra dose of nourishment, use this shampoo with the leave-in conditioner.
Together they are among the best shampoo and conditioner for African American relaxed hair.
We loved that there are no silicones, sulfates, or parabens in this shampoo. So it’s perfect for color-treated hair as well.
Pros:
- Hydrates hair
- contains a unique formulation of black Vanilla, clover, rose, and aloe vera extracts
- leaves hair soft and smooth
- Subtle floral fragrance
- Adds nourishment
- does not contain silicons, sulfates, or parabens
- perfect for color treated hair
Cons:
- None
Paisle Biotin Thickening Shampoo
Best Thickening Shampoo For Relaxed Hair
The last product on our list of the best shampoo for relaxed hair is the Paisle Biotin Thickening Shampoo. Guess what it does?
The hint’s in the name - thickening! Curly hair is often very fine and coarse, and straightening using relaxers can leave it thin and limp.
A good thickening shampoo, like this one, plumps up the strands, leaving your hair thick and plentiful.
This product is also the best shampoo for relaxed hair growth as it contains DHT blockers in the form of saw palmetto.
The vitamin B-complex formulation repairs damage and leaves tresses shiny and smooth.
Pros:
- Helps thicken the hair
- adds plumpness to the strands
- helps in hair growth
- contains DHT blockers
- unique Vitamin B complex formulation
- repairs damages
- makes hair shiny and smooth
Cons:
- None
OGX Strength and Shine Keratin Oil Shampoo
This OGX shampoo is one of the best drugstore products for relaxed hair.
If you find your tresses damaged and dull after the relaxing procedure, this shampoo can infuse new life into them.
The blend of keratin proteins and argan oil helps strengthen brittle, thin strands. It also helps control frizz and leaves your mane soft and smooth.
We also appreciate that the formula is sulfate and paraben-free.
Pros:
- Strengthens hair
- removes brittleness
- adds plumpness to thin strands
- contains a blend of Keratin proteins and argan oil
- helps to control frizz
- makes hair smooth and soft
- free of sulfates and parabens
Cons:
- None
How do I select the best shampoo for relaxed hair?
Some of the factors to consider before buying a shampoo for relaxed hair include:
Ingredients
Relaxing can leave your hair dry and coarse, so it needs extra nourishment. Look for shampoos with moisturizing ingredients that will smoothen hair cuticles and hydrate your strands.
Some of these ingredients include coconut oil, agran oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, shea butter, cocoa butter among others.
While relaxed hair needs more care, you should also keep in mind the state of your scalp.
If you have an oily scalp, some of these ingredients, especially rich ones like shea butter and cocoa butter can get too heavy. They might leave hair greasy too.
So in that case it's better to stick with lighter hydrating ingredients like aloe, sweet almond oil, polyquaternium 10, etc.
Gentleness
A good shampoo for relaxed hair is always gentle and mild. Your hair has already undergone much damage from the chemicals used in relaxers.
So using shampoos full of harsh surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS and SLES) is a terrible idea.
They further strip hair of natural oils and can also irritate dry scalps.
Instead, look for shampoos with milder surfactants like sulfosuccinates which are not that harsh or better yet, coconut-based cleansers.
Added Benefits
The best shampoo for relaxed hair isn't just focused on cleansing hair in the mildest, nicest way possible. It also helps control other hair issues, that might or might not be the result of hair relaxing treatments.
Hair relaxers change the physical structure of your strands, so there is some keratin loss. So the best shampoo for relaxed hair is one with added keratin proteins.
This will help repair any damage on your hair cortex and decrease hair loss.
Chemical procedures like relaxing also tend to leave hair limp and thin. So shampoos with biotin that increase hair elasticity and add plumpness and bounce to strands.
Why do I need a separate shampoo for relaxed hair?
Chemical hair relaxers permanently change the texture of your strands for curly to straight.
So using either your old shampoo for African American hair textures or a regular shampoo for naturally straight hair isn't feasible. Here's why:
Dry scalp: The chemicals used in most relaxers are harsh. There is no doubt about it. So your scalp can often become dry and itchy after you've permanently straightened your hair. Regular shampoos with sulfates and artificial fragrances can further irritate your scalp. Sometimes, it even leads to dandruff and flaking.
Breakage: Relaxers alter the chemical bonds in the molecules of your hair. So sometimes this leads to weaker, brittle hair. So a shampoo that specifically has strengthening ingredients like keratin and biotin are required.
Thin and Fine Structure: Shampoos formulated for African American hair are very rich and nourishing. This is a necessity for kinky, coily hair. But these might be too heavy and weigh relaxed hair down. So you need a shampoo that will moisturize without leaving hair limp.
Product Build-up: Straight hair is more prone to product build-up. Unlike Afro textures, your relaxed hair doesn't need so many oils, creams, and leave-in conditioners any more. So you need to invest in a shampoo that will remove any excess build-up.
FAQs
How long should I wait to wash my hair after using a relaxer?
But we really think you should wait at least a week to let the texture of your hair set in.
Also, relaxed hair is weak from the chemicals used. Making it wet will get it even weaker and prone to damage.
How often should relaxed hair be washed?
In fact, if you've got dry scalps, you can even get away with shampooing just once a week. Doing so keeps dryness and dandruff at bay.
But if you've got really oily scalps or if you get sweaty due to workouts, we think you should dial up the shampooing to thrice a week.
Using the best dry shampoo for relaxed hair between washes is a great idea. So is using a sulfate-free shampoo or a co-wash.
How do you keep relaxed hair healthy?
But it's important to take care of your relaxed hair to get rid of these problems forever. Here's how:
Use low or no heat: Ditch the hair straightener and blow dryer. The best thing you can do for your relaxed hair is to stop exposing it to heat. Relaxed hair is already fragile, and heat can up the damage.
Protective styles: Cover your hair using a silk or satin wrapping. Or try protective hairstyles like buns, braids, or updos that keep hair out of sight. Doing so helps reduce frizz and protects relaxed hair.
Trim the edges: Regularly trim your edges trimmed to prevent split ends and breakage.
Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize: Relaxed hair needs more hydration as it's prone to dryness and frizz. So use the best deep conditioner for relaxed hair to leave it smooth. You can even use a leave-in conditioner for that extra nourishment.
Conclusion
Most women get their hair relaxed to make them easy to manage.
But sometimes, the whole straightening process can leave your tresses damaged, dry, and prone to breakage.
This is why we suggest using the best shampoo for relaxed hair from the list above.
These products help repair any damage and keep your tresses moisturized, leaving them smooth and silky.