By PFAS Authority · Updated September 6, 2026
Top grades to buy
Aveeno
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
Cantu
Unisex Shea Butter Moisturizing Cream Shampoo
Roz
Salt Scalp Scrub
Model-based grades, not lab tests. We flunk more than we pass. How grading works
PFAS in Shampoo, 185 Shampoos and Why They All Grade the Same
We graded 185 shampoos from Pantene, Dove, Head & Shoulders, Garnier Fructis, Aussie, Cantu, SheaMoisture, Kérastase, Redken, Olaplex, Briogeo, Moroccanoil, Vanicream, Puracy and others. All 182 grade 75 out of 100. None has a coating or treatment of concern on record, and none of their makers has a PFAS statement on record.
So our grade does not separate one shampoo from another, and no shampoo brand here has earned a better grade with a PFAS statement or certification. If you want to go further than the grade, the ingredient list is where a fluorinated ingredient would show up.
Summary comparison table
| Product | PFAS grade | Formula as recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based surfactant shampoo |
| Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based surfactant shampoo |
| Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based surfactant shampoo |
| Cantu Shea Butter Cleansing Cream Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based cream shampoo |
| Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based shampoo with botanical extracts |
| Kérastase Nutritive Bain Satin Riche Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based surfactant shampoo |
| Vanicream Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based surfactant shampoo |
| Puracy Natural Shampoo | Excellent, 75/100 | Water-based surfactant shampoo |
How we graded these
Every grade here is a model-based estimate built from publicly available product information and manufacturer disclosures, not a lab test performed by our team. A high score means lower concern based on reviewed sources, never PFAS-free and never safe. All 182 shampoos grade 75, the baseline of 20 for this kind of product, plus 15 because no maker here has a PFAS statement on record, minus 10 for a formula base not linked to PFAS. Our records do not include an ingredient-by-ingredient check for fluorinated compounds. Dog and cat shampoos and a carpet shampoo filed under this category are excluded. Look up any shampoo in our PFAS product finder.
Why every shampoo grades 75
A shampoo is water, surfactants, conditioning agents and fragrance. None of that is a coating or a water-repellent treatment, which is what our model penalizes most heavily in other categories. What moves a shampoo's grade in either direction is the brand. A published PFAS statement would lift it, and a certification that restricts PFAS would lift it further. No shampoo maker in our data has either on record, so the 15 points for silence apply to every one of them.
That includes brands marketed as clean or natural. Clean is not a PFAS statement, and our records credit only what a brand says about PFAS or what a certifier verifies.
What to look for on the label
PFAS used in personal care show up as named ingredients. In a December 2025 report, the FDA said 51 PFAS were listed as ingredients in 1,744 cosmetic formulations. On a shampoo or conditioner label, look for PTFE or any ingredient name containing perfluoro, polyfluoro or fluoro. A label without them does not list a fluorinated ingredient.
Shampoo also rinses off. If you are prioritizing, leave-on products that sit on skin for hours, such as foundation and long-wear or waterproof makeup, are covered in our cosmetics guide.
A correction to this guide
An earlier version of this guide ranked shampoo brands from best to worst, and our records at the time had Public Goods and Roz at 100 on a third-party verification we could not confirm, and Puracy and Vanicream at 90 because their records had skipped the penalty for a brand saying nothing about PFAS. On 16 and 17 September 2026 we corrected those records, and every shampoo now grades 75. We also removed eight dog and cat shampoos and a carpet shampoo from this category.
What to avoid
- Hair products whose ingredients include PTFE or a name with perfluoro, polyfluoro or fluoro, if avoiding PFAS is your aim.
- Reading clean, natural or non-toxic on a bottle as a PFAS statement.
- Choosing a shampoo on our grade alone. Every one here grades the same.
For more on hair care, see PFAS in hair products and which shampoos have PFAS.
Our pick
Based on available materials and data, every shampoo here grades 75 out of 100, so choose the one that suits your hair and check its ingredient list for PTFE or fluoro names. If you want a simple formula that is easy to check Vanicream Shampoo is one Vanicream sells for sensitive skin. These grades are estimates built from disclosed materials, not laboratory proof, and nothing here is being called PFAS-free or safe by us.
FAQ
Does shampoo contain PFAS?
None of the 182 shampoos we graded has a fluorinated ingredient or coating on record, but our records do not check every ingredient. Some personal care formulas do list fluorinated ingredients, so read the label for PTFE or names containing fluoro.
Is Pantene or Head & Shoulders PFAS-free?
Neither brand has a PFAS statement on record for the shampoos we graded, and our records show no fluorinated ingredient. They grade 75, the same as every other shampoo here. We do not call any product PFAS-free ourselves.
Are natural or clean shampoos better for PFAS?
Not in our data. Natural and clean shampoo brands grade 75, the same as mass-market brands, because none of them has a PFAS statement or certification on record.
Is dry shampoo a PFAS concern?
Dry shampoos are aerosol or powder products with different ingredients from a liquid shampoo. Check the ingredient list the same way, for PTFE or fluoro names.
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