Beauty No Lye Relaxer Duel: Africa Best vs ORS Extra Strength Kit
Originals by Africa Best and the ORS Extra Strength Kit are two heavyweights for coarse hair. Both use olive oil to protect hair during the chemical process. Both target resistant textures that weaker relaxers cannot handle. Prices sit within a dollar of each other. Here is how these two strong kits compare directly. Patch test new brands even if experienced.
| Factor | Originals by Africa's Best Olive Oil No- | Kids Originals Natural Conditioning No-L |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kit | Check price | Check price |
| Strength level | Super strength, the strongest tier | Extra strength, a half-step milder |
| Moisture system | Olive oil plus shea butter blend | Olive oil built-in protection system |
| Kit extras | Basic kit with fewer extras | Includes shampoo and deep conditioner |
| Scent during use | Mild clean scent | Noticeable chemical odor |
| Beginner friendliness | Strong formula needs experience | Clearer step-by-step instructions |
Our Verdict
Both kits straighten coarse hair well at similar prices, so either is a solid buy. Pick Africa Best if you trust the classic brand heritage and milder scent. Pick ORS for the built-in protection system and clearer instructions. Either way, strand-test first and never overlap previously relaxed hair. Trim split ends before they travel upward.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Normal hair textures wanting a classic relaxer cream.
Hawaiian Silky No Lye Relaxer Regular 20 oz
- Regular strength no-lye relaxer cream
- 20 oz jar suits multiple applications
- Mild formula for normal hair textures
- Salon-trusted brand for decades
Pros
- Large jar gives multiple uses
- Regular strength is forgiving
- Long-trusted brand name
Cons
- Jar packaging is less hygienic
- Needs separate neutralizing shampoo
- Not for very coarse hair
Best for: Regular relaxer users who want bulk savings.
ORS Olive Oil No-Lye Hair Relaxer Normal Strength Pack of 4
- Four full no-lye relaxer applications
- Normal strength for fine to medium hair
- Olive oil built-in protection system
- Each kit includes shampoo and conditioner
Pros
- Stock up and save per kit
- Gentle normal strength
- Trusted ORS olive oil formula
Cons
- Only normal strength available
- Four kits is a big commitment
- Must store kits properly
Best for: Coarse hair that regular relaxers cannot straighten.
ORS Olive Oil No-Lye Hair Relaxer Kit Extra Strength
- Extra strength for coarse, resistant hair
- Olive oil protects during processing
- No-lye formula is scalp-friendlier
- Complete kit with clear instructions
Pros
- Handles stubborn textures
- Olive oil reduces dryness
- Affordable single kit
Cons
- Too strong for fine hair
- Processing time is critical
- Chemical odor lingers
Want the Full Picture?
No-lye vs lye: the calcium problem nobody mentions
No-lye relaxers are marketed as the gentler choice, and on the scalp they are: calcium hydroxide irritates less than sodium hydroxide. But no-lye carries a hidden cost that lye does not. The calcium in no-lye formulas deposits on the hair shaft with every application, building up into a mineral layer that makes hair dry, dull, and brittle over time. This is the real reason long-term no-lye users complain of dryness that conditioning never fixes: the problem is mineral, not moisture.
The fix is chelating, not more conditioner. A chelating shampoo every one to two weeks dissolves the calcium buildup that regular and even clarifying shampoos leave behind. You will know calcium was the culprit because the hair suddenly feels softer and holds moisture again after the chelating wash. Lye relaxers skip this problem entirely, since sodium rinses clean, which is one reason many stylists prefer lye for long-term clients despite the stronger scalp sensation. Neither type is risk-free; the choice is which tradeoff you manage.
Strength selection: the most expensive mistake
Choosing relaxer strength by desired straightness instead of hair texture is the top cause of over-processing. Fine hair needs mild or normal strength even if you want it bone straight; the texture determines how fast the chemical works, not the final look. Using extra strength on fine hair does not give straighter results, it gives breakage, because fine strands process in half the time of coarse ones. The ORS Olive Oil kits come in Normal and Extra Strength precisely for this matching, and picking wrong is worse than picking a weaker brand.
Two timing rules prevent most damage. Start the timer when the first section is applied, not when you finish, since the first sections process longest. And never apply relaxer to already relaxed hair: touch-ups go on new growth only, every 8 to 10 weeks for no-lye. Overlapping onto previously relaxed lengths is how hair snaps at the line of demarcation, the weak point where new growth meets processed hair. If you are stretching past 10 weeks, the two textures need extra moisture and gentle handling at the line, because that is where breakage happens.
Relaxer plus color: the waiting game
Relaxing and coloring in the same week is how hair gets destroyed. Both processes swell and stress the cuticle, and stacking them compounds the damage beyond what either does alone. The safe order is relax first, then wait a full two weeks before any color, and choose demi-permanent or semi-permanent color rather than permanent dye for the second step. The gentler color deposits tone without the additional lifting stress.
During those two weeks, the hair needs protein-moisture balance, not just moisture. Alternate a protein treatment one week with a deep moisture mask the next: too much of either one causes its own breakage, stiffness from protein overload or mushiness from over-moisturizing. Signs you have the balance right are elasticity and shine; hair that snaps when stretched needs moisture, hair that stretches endlessly without springing back needs protein. For rebuilding damaged lengths between chemical services, our Redken All Soft Mega conditioner guide covers intensive repair options, and our best hair care guide maps full routines for chemically treated hair.