Bumble and Bumble Thickening Big + Full Starter Set
Low-medium concern; typical hair care shows no known intentional PFAS additions.
This shampoo and conditioner set uses no intentional PFAS additives like aqueous film-forming foams or polymeric waterproofing coatings. Bumble and bumble makes no PFAS-free claim and offers no disclosure, though hair care carries lower inherent risk than treated textiles.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Hair care formulation (shampoo/conditioner base)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Bumble and Bumble Full Starter Set is made of, ingredients and materials
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Big + Full is a shampoo and conditioner set based on standard surfactant and conditioning polymer chemistry. The formulation is designed to coat and plump hair fibers rather than chemically alter them, using silicones, polymers, and botanical extracts as thickening agents. Hair care products sit on the scalp and hair surface rather than penetrating systemically, so absorption risk is lower than ingested or dermal products. The concern threshold for hair care is primarily around scalp irritation and sensitization rather than systemic toxicity.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Bumble and Bumble formulations typically contain fragrance blends. Individual allergic reaction or scalp sensitization is possible but not product-specific; impact is localized to scalp and hair.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Conventional cosmetic formulations may use formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) at regulated levels. No specific disclosure on this product's preservative system is available publicly.
Source, ATSDR ↗1,4-dioxane contamination in surfactants
Dioxane can occur as a trace contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants and emulsifiers commonly used in shampoos. No testing data for this product is publicly available; risk is low under standard manufacturing and remains mainly a scalp/hair contact exposure.
Eye and mucous membrane irritation
Shampoos are intended for scalp and hair use; accidental contact with eyes or ingestion can cause irritation. Standard precautions (rinse with water) apply; no product-specific hazard is documented.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
This volumizing shampoo/conditioner set does not contain color cosmetics or pigmented formulations, eliminating typical sources of lead, cadmium, or arsenic in cosmetics.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Bumble and Bumble (owned by Estée Lauder Companies) does not publicly disclose detailed ingredient safety testing or third-party certifications for this line. The brand has no documented safety recalls or regulatory warnings specific to this product. Estée Lauder Companies complies with FDA and EU cosmetic regulations but does not seek organic or clean-beauty certifications, indicating a conventional formulation philosophy. No public controversy or adverse event clusters have been established for this starter set.
How it compares in its category
This product sits in the premium hair care segment without specialized safety positioning (no hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, or dermatologist-tested claims). Compared to mass-market alternatives, premium formulations typically have higher polymer and conditioning agent concentrations but follow identical safety testing standards. It lacks certifications that might differentiate it in the clean-beauty space, making it functionally equivalent to other salon-brand volumizers in terms of safety profile. The starter set format does not introduce additional hazards beyond standard shampoo/conditioner use.
If you buy it
Use as directed on the label; no special precautions are needed for normal shampooing and conditioning. Discontinue if scalp irritation or itching develops, as this may indicate sensitization to fragrance or preservatives rather than a systemic safety issue. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent separation or mold growth in the bottles; replace if product odor changes or container integrity fails. This product does not require special handling or monitoring beyond standard cosmetic storage practices.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Bumble and bumble has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More shampoo grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.