Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo vs Alcohol-Free Conditioner: which is safer?
Prose Alcohol-Free Conditioner is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
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)
Our pick
Prose
Alcohol-Free Conditioner
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 67/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
aqueous conditioner (liquid hair care, no coating or treatment layer)
Confidence
72%
PossibleFragrance allergens
Possible1,4-dioxane from surfactant ethoxylation
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Surfactant irritation (skin/eye contact) and Microbial contamination (post-purchase) on the Aveeno and not on the Prose.
- We flag 1,4-dioxane from surfactant ethoxylation on the Prose and not on the Aveeno.
- Both carry a flag for Fragrance allergens, so neither choice avoids it.
- The Aveeno is aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water) where the Prose is aqueous conditioner (liquid hair care, no coating or treatment layer), 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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