Top 9 Best Shampoo for Relaxed Hair 2024 | For Healthy, Smooth Tresses!

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.

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Best Shampoo For Relaxed Hair 2023

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

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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

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. 

Also Read:

1. Easy to create hairstyles for relaxed hair
2. What shampoo to use on weaves