The Welpr Rating is determined by a scoring formula. The formula takes into account the products safety, user satisfaction, and eco-ethical standing. Click here to learn more.
Best Non-Toxic Hair Relaxer in 2024
Written by Camille May
Cofounder & Product Curator
Medically reviewed by Olushola Awoyemi
PhD Environmental Toxicology
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our use of affiliate links does not influence how we rate products. Learn more about our affiliate policy here.
What you should know when choosing non-toxic hair relaxer on Welpr:
- Only the cleanest products make it onto Welpr.
- We use a score called the Welpr Rating to rank each product.
- The Welpr Rating is based on math, not opinion, ensuring it's free from human bias.
Find Non-Toxic Hair Relaxer
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Shea Butter Regular Relaxer - Silk Elements
Certifications
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$17.49
Product Details
- Combines Shea Butter and Silk Proteins to keep hair soft and healthy-looking.
- Gently relaxes hair.
- Conditioners in the formula nourish and protect the hair.
- Improves hair manageability.
- Available in regular, coarse, and mild formulas.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Manageable
- Non-drying
- Bouncy
Cons Mentioned
- Dry
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Laneth-15, PEG-75 Lanolin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Alter Ego Shea Butter Cream Relaxer - Linange
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$24.02
Product Details
- Manufactured in Italy
- Labeled as a top beauty product
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Moisturizing
- Strong
- Manageable
Cons Mentioned
- Breakage
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil Petrolatum, Ceteraryl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sea Butter, Sodium Hyproxide, Polysorbate 60, Laureth-15, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg (150) Stearate, Stearate 20, Peg (60), Lanolin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Vegetable Protein, Fragrance
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Shea Butter Mild Relaxer - Silk Elements
Certifications
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$17.49
Product Details
- Available in regular, coarse, and mild formulas
- Improves manageability of hair
- Gently relaxes hair
- Contains Shea Butter and Silk Proteins to nourish and keep hair soft
- Designed to protect hair health during the relaxing process
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Softening
- Economical
Cons Mentioned
- Damaging
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Laneth-15, PEG-75 Lanolin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Realistic Conditioning Crme Relaxer No Base Formula Mild - Revlon
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$13.99
Product Details
- Features a no base formula
- Designed for mild hair relaxing
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Authentic
- Generous
- Effective
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua) (Eau), Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Laneth 15, Peg 60, Lanolin, Potassium Cocyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Peg 150 Searate, Steareth 20, Fragrance (Parfum), Citronellol, Geraniol
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Realistic Conditioning Creme Relaxer No Base Formula Regular - Revlon
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$18.12
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Best
- Reliable
Cons Mentioned
- Breakage
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua) (Eau), Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Laneth 15, PEG 60, Lanolin, Potassium Cocyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, PEG 150 Searate, Steareth 20, Fragrance (Parfum), Citronellol, Geraniol
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Olive Oil Creme Relaxer Extra Strength - Ors
Certifications
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$29.26
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Eficaz
- Maravilloso
- EXCELLENT
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Aqua, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, Silicone Quaternium-2 Panthenol Succinate, PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-12 Oleate, Sulfated Castor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-7, Cetrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Phenolsulfonphthalein
Our Product Rating System
First, Camille (co-creator of Welpr) hand picks cleaner product options from a variety of sources.
Next, we collect information about each product's safety, consumer satisfaction, and eco-ethical standing.
Finally, we run all this information through an algorithm that calculates the Welpr Rating.
Welpr Rating:
5.0/5
Part 1: Product safety
We evaluate safety information from 3rd party organizations (e.g. EWG, Made Safe, etc.). Instead of relying solely on any one of these companies for safety information, we assess all of them.
Part 2: Consumer satisfaction
We scour the web for consumer ratings and reviews to verify products are not only cleaner options, but also effective. Products can either be Above Average, Average, or Below average for their respective category (e.g. cleaning products).
Part 3: Ethics & Environment
When you buy a product, you’re supporting that company with your dollars. We believe it’s important to support ethical companies, so we pool together certifications that verify a company's ethics and environmental impact.
Common Harmful Chemicals in Hair Relaxer
Chemical Name
Why it’s harmful
Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a solid used in manufacturing epoxy resins and polycarbonates for food packaging. Human exposure to BPA can cause allergic dermatitis and has been associated with negative effects on fertility, such as declined semen quality, increased sperm DNA damage, and risk of miscarriage. BPA, an endocrine disruptor, also affects oocyte quality during in vitro fertilization. Animal studies indicate that BPA caused eye damage in rabbits, accelerated tumorigenesis in mice, disrupted sex behaviors in rats, and induced obesity in rodents. Ecotoxicity studies show BPA's disruptive effects on sex characteristics in fish and gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting broad environmental implications.
Sources:
Levels of parabens and bisphenols in personal care products and urinary concentrations in Indian young adult women: Implications for human exposure and health risk assessment, Estimation of intake and uptake of bisphenols and triclosan from personal care products by dermal contact, Exposure determinants of phthalates, parabens, bisphenol A and triclosan in Swedish mothers and their children, BPA and Phthalates: Chemicals found in our homes ,
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas with a pungent smell that's naturally produced in small quantities in human bodies and is also known as methanal amongst other names. It's used in the production of various items such as fertilizers, paper, plywood, and urea-formaldehyde resins as well as in some foods and household products like antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics. Exposure to formaldehyde, which can occur through breathing contaminated indoor air, tobacco smoke, or ambient urban air can lead to respiratory symptoms, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and has been linked to lung and nasopharyngeal cancer as well as leukemia. The EPA considers formaldehyde a probable human carcinogen (Group B1) and inhaling it can cause bronchospasm and pulmonary edema. Commercially, it's sold as formalin in solutions of 37%, 44%, or 50% and long-term exposure can cause first-degree burns, skin sensitization, squamous cell nasal cancer, and chronic pulmonary obstruction.
Sources:
Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk, Cleaning Products & Indoor Air Quality, No More Toxic Tub, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Preservatives, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Formaldehyde And Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives, Formaldehyde may be found in cosmetic products even when unlabelled, Formaldehyde Found in Popular American Beauty Products, Hair Salons - Formaldehyde in Your Products, Formaldehyde in cosmetic products
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda or lye, is an odorless white crystalline solid that absorbs moisture from the air. It generates significant heat when dissolved in water or neutralized with acid which may ignite combustible materials. It is highly corrosive and is typically used as a solid or in a 50% solution. Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture a variety of products including soaps, rayon, paper, explosives, dyestuffs, and petroleum products. Exposure to this substance may cause severe burns, necrosis, and pulmonary edema, depending on the concentration and exposure method.
Triclosan
Triclosan is a synthetic pesticide with antibacterial properties commonly added to detergents, soaps, and various personal care products such as deodorants and toothpastes. Although it lacks the ability to combat viruses causing colds and flus, it's used in products like body washes, disinfectants, and some toothpastes to resist bacterial growth. In 2016, the FDA limited its use in antibacterial soaps, but the compound is still permitted in other products. The European Union prohibited its presence in food-contact items in 2010. Exposure to triclosan has been associated with hormone disruption, increased breast cancer risk, liver damage, and the development of resistant super-germs.
Sources:
Triclosan Exposure, Transformation, and Human Health Effects, Are antibacterial products with triclosan fueling bacterial resistance?, Antimicrobial agents, triclosan, chloroxylenol, methylisothiazolinone and borax, used in cleaning had genotoxic and histopathologic effects on rainbow trout, The Effects of Triclosan on Puberty and Thyroid Hormones in Male Wistar Rats, Triclosan is a potent inhibitor of estradiol and estrone sulfonation in sheep placenta, The in Vitro estrogenic activities of triclosan and triclocarban, Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It, Use Plain Soap and Water, Environmental Exposure of Aquatic and Terrestrial Biota to Triclosan and Triclocarban, Triclosan: Environmental Fate and Effects, Chemical Profile: Triclosan / Triclocarban, 5 Things to Know About Triclosan, Underarm Harm? Whats So Bad About Antiperspirants?, Some flame retardants and the antimicrobials triclosan and triclocarban enhance the androgenic activity in vitro, Triclocarban Enhances Testosterone Action: A New Type of Endocrine Disruptor?, Triclosan, a commonly used bactericide found in human milk and in the aquatic environment in Sweden
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