Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo vs Charcoal Dog Shampoo: which is safer?

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

Aveeno

Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water)

Confidence

82%

PossibleSurfactant irritation (skin/eye contact)

PossibleFragrance allergens

PossibleMicrobial contamination (post-purchase)

kin+kind Charcoal Dog Shampoo

Kin+Kind

Charcoal Dog Shampoo

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 59/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Water-based liquid shampoo with charcoal

Confidence

72%

Possible1,4-dioxane (surfactant byproduct)

PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components

PossiblePreservative contamination and microbial growth

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Surfactant irritation (skin/eye contact), Fragrance allergens and Microbial contamination (post-purchase) on the Aveeno and not on the Kin+Kind.
  • We flag 1,4-dioxane (surfactant byproduct), Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components, Preservative contamination and microbial growth and Skin irritation from charcoal particles or abrasives on the Kin+Kind and not on the Aveeno.
  • The Aveeno is aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water) where the Kin+Kind is Water-based liquid shampoo with charcoal, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

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