Colored hair is more porous, more fragile, and significantly more reactive to harsh chemicals than untreated strands. The wrong relaxer will strip your custom dye job in one session and leave a brittle, straw-like texture that no conditioner can fix. The challenge is finding a formula that delivers straight, manageable hair without muting your color or accelerating breakage.
I’m Mohammad — the founder and writer behind ProteinJug.
This guide isolates the relaxer kits that balance straightening power with color preservation so you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Whether you touch up every six weeks or stretch your relaxer to twelve, these are the tools that keep your hue intact. Here is my curated list of the best relaxer for colored hair that consistently delivers on both goals.
How To Choose The Best Relaxer For Colored Hair
Relaxers work by breaking the disulfide bonds in your hair’s protein structure. When you add artificial color into the mix, those bonds are already compromised, which means the relaxer must be gentler without sacrificing straightening ability. Here are the three factors that determine whether a relaxer will preserve your color or ruin it.
No-Lye vs. Lye Formulations
Lye-based relaxers (sodium hydroxide) are the strongest and fastest-acting, but they also raise the hair shaft’s pH to a level that can rapidly fade semi-permanent and permanent colors. No-lye relaxers use calcium hydroxide or guanidine carbonate, which work slightly slower but cause less alkali damage to the already-porous cuticle of dyed hair. For colored hair, a no-lye formula is the safer starting point.
Conditioning Additives
Olive oil, shea butter, aloe vera, and silk amino acids each serve a protective role during the relaxing process. Olive oil in particular has a molecular structure that can penetrate the cuticle and help lubricate the strand while the relaxer is breaking bonds. A relaxer with built-in conditioners reduces the need for heavy post-relaxer protein treatments, which can trap residue that dulls color vibrancy.
Processing Time and Strength
Most relaxers come in mild, regular, and super strengths. Colored hair should never use super strength — the risk of overprocessing is too high. Regular strength allows you to monitor the straightening progress in real time, and you can neutralize the relaxer with a color-safe shampoo the moment the hair reaches your desired texture. Never leave a relaxer on dyed hair past the manufacturer’s recommended window.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motions Regular Hair Relaxer | No-Base | Color-treated coarse hair | 64 oz professional jar | Amazon |
| ORS Olive Oil Built-In Protection | No-Lye | Normal texture with colored ends | Full system bundle | Amazon |
| Africa’s Best Olive Oil 2-Pack | Value System | Coarse hair needing two sessions | 2 complete kits per box | Amazon |
| ORS Olive Oil Creme Relaxer Jar 2-Pack | No-Lye Cream | Sensitive scalp with color | 18.75 oz jars (2 pack) | Amazon |
| Vitale Sensitive Scalp Conditioning No‑lye Kit | Sensitive Kit | Bleached or high-lift color | Full conditioning kit | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Motions Regular Hair Relaxer
Motions has been a staple in textured-hair care for decades, and its Regular Hair Relaxer stands out as the most versatile option for color-treated strands in this lineup. The no-base formulation uses cationic conditioners that lock onto each hair shaft during processing, which reduces the moisture loss that usually accelerates color fading. Users with coarse, tangly textures report that Motions straightens beautifully without the excessive irritation that cheaper relaxers cause — a critical factor when your scalp is already sensitized by recent coloring.
The 64-ounce professional jar is a serious value for anyone who retouches their own roots every two to three months. Because it requires a separate application base, you can control exactly where the relaxer touches previously colored ends, minimizing overprocessing. Multiple long-term users confirm they have used Motions for years without experiencing the brittle breakage that often comes with harsher formulas.
If you have fine or medium colored hair, the regular strength gives you enough processing control to stop the relaxer the moment your hair reaches your desired texture. The key is to strand-test on a hidden section first: colored hair may react faster than virgin hair, so start checking at the eight-minute mark rather than the full recommended time.
Why it’s great
- Cationic conditioners in the formula protect color-treated strands during chemical processing
- Large 64 oz jar lasts multiple touch-ups, reducing cost per session
- No-base design allows targeted application away from fragile dyed ends
Good to know
- Requires a separate base cream and neutralizing shampoo not included in the jar
- Regular strength may be too strong for hair with heavy bleach damage
2. ORS Olive Oil Built-In Protection No-Lye Hair Relaxer Bundle
ORS is the brand that most experienced at-home relaxer users gravitate toward when they want a complete system rather than a single jar. This bundle pairs the no-lye relaxer with a moisture restore creamy aloe shampoo and a replenishing conditioner, which eliminates the guesswork of pairing separate products that might strip color. The relaxer itself is formulated with olive oil that helps maintain elasticity during the bond-breaking process, a critical detail for colored hair that has already lost some natural tensile strength.
User feedback consistently highlights how this system “helps relax stressed hair” without leaving that dry, brittle aftermath. The shampoo included is sulfate-free enough to remove relaxer residue without aggressively stripping semi-permanent or permanent dye. Many users report that their color looks as vibrant two weeks after relaxing as it did the day of application, which is a strong indicator that the pH balance across the entire bundle is color-safe.
The normal-strength formula in this bundle is ideal for first-timers transitioning from a lye-based product. If you are nervous about overprocessing, the built-in protection layer gives you a margin of safety that a bare relaxer cannot offer.
Why it’s great
- Complete system with shampoo and conditioner that are color-safe
- Olive oil additive helps preserve elasticity in dyed strands
- No-lye chemistry reduces cuticle lifting that causes color fade
Good to know
- Relaxer jar is smaller than the Motions 64 oz option
- Not designed for super coarse or extremely thick textures
3. Originals By Africa’s Best Olive Oil Conditioning Relaxer System 2-Pack
Africa’s Best is a budget-friendly name that punches above its price point by packaging two complete relaxer kits in one box. Each kit contains everything you need for a single application: relaxer cream, activator, neutralizing shampoo, and conditioning treatment. For colored hair, the highlight is the extra virgin olive oil infusion that helps repair, rebuild, and restore elasticity — the same structural properties that color services tend to deplete. The 2-pack format means you always have a backup kit ready for your next retouch.
The formula is designed for coarse hair textures, which is exactly the demographic that struggles most with color fading after relaxing. Users report that the relaxer leaves hair “perfectly straightened” and “silky” without the straw-like feel that plagues cheaper drugstore relaxers. Because it is a no-lye system, the pH is gentler on the cuticle, allowing semi-permanent colors to hold their tone longer between touch-ups.
One thing to watch: the neutralizing shampoo is effective, so it will remove some toner over the first wash. Time your relaxer session to align with a planned color refresh to avoid patchiness.
Why it’s great
- Two complete kits in one box provide backup or a second application
- Extra virgin olive oil formulation supports elasticity in dyed, porous strands
- No-lye system reduces cuticle damage and preserves color longevity
Good to know
- Neutralizing shampoo may remove some toner on the first wash
- Best for coarse textures; may be too strong for fine colored hair
4. Vitale Sensitive Scalp Conditioning No‑lye Relaxer Kit
Vitale’s Sensitive Scalp Conditioning No‑lye Relaxer Kit is specifically engineered for scalps that react to chemical relaxers — a common issue when you combine dye chemicals with straightening agents. The conditioning agents in this kit buffer the alkalinity so well that users with “severely damaged follicles” report zero burning sensation during application. This is the most color-conscious formula in the lineup because it minimizes the inflammation and pH spike that cause pigment molecules to bleed out of the cortex.
One notable user feedback on Amazon warns that this relaxer turned previously bleached hair into a “jelly-like” consistency, which resulted in hair loss. This is a critical warning: the manufacturer explicitly advises against using this product on hair that has been bleached at any point in the past. For people with single-process permanent color that has not been lifted, the kit performs beautifully and leaves hair silky without irritation.
The kit comes with neutralizing shampoo that does require multiple rinses to remove the pink indicator dye, but this thoroughness ensures every trace of relaxer is washed out — vital for preserving the integrity of your color post-service.
Why it’s great
- Buffered formula prevents scalp burning during application on sensitized skin
- Conditioning agents protect the cuticle from pH spikes that fade color
- Neutralizing indicator shows exactly when all relaxer residue is removed
Good to know
- Not safe for hair that has ever been bleached or high-lift colored
- Neutralizing shampoo requires multiple washes to clear the pink dye
5. Ors Olive Oil Creme Relaxer Normal 18.75oz Jar (2 Pack)
This 2-pack of Ors Olive Oil Creme Relaxer in Normal strength is a workhorse for anyone who already knows their hair responds well to olive oil-based relaxers. The cream formulation spreads easily, which is essential when you are trying to avoid overlapping relaxer onto previously colored midshafts and ends. Users with 3B and 4A textures report that this relaxer “detangles and lengthens” hair noticeably, giving a smooth, silky finish that many associates with salon-quality results.
The important nuance here is timing: user feedback indicates that leaving the relaxer on for even two minutes beyond the recommended window on colored hair can cause “excessive hair loss.” The normal strength is effective enough that you should start checking the texture at the 10-minute mark. Pairing this relaxer with the ORS neutralizing shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner creates a reliable home routine that preserves color vibrancy between salon visits.
Because this is a 2-pack, you are effectively buying two full-strength applications at once. If you use it only for root touch-ups, one jar can last three to four sessions, making this a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on the protective olive oil infusion.
Why it’s great
- Cream formula spreads smoothly for precise root application around colored hair
- Two jars provide extended use for multiple touch-up sessions
- Olive oil base helps maintain moisture and elasticity in dyed strands
Good to know
- Overprocessing risk is high if timing exceeds manufacturer recommendations
- Not ideal for very fine or previously bleached hair textures
FAQ
Can I relax my hair the same day I color it?
Will a no-lye relaxer damage my hair color more than a lye relaxer?
How long should I wait between color services and a relaxer touch-up?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most users, the relaxer for colored hair winner is the Motions Regular Hair Relaxer because its no-base cationic formula provides professional-grade straightening without stripping color. If you want a complete all-in-one system with color-safe shampoo and conditioner, grab the ORS Olive Oil Built-In Protection Bundle. And for a sensitive scalp that reacts to both dye and relaxer chemicals, nothing beats the Vitale Sensitive Scalp Conditioning No‑lye Kit.