OUAI Medium Hair Shampoo
Lower concern; liquid shampoo carries minimal PFAS risk profile.
This liquid shampoo has no nonstick, water-resistant, or stain-resistant treatment triggers. The brand provides no PFAS disclosure.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Aqueous shampoo formulation (surfactants, conditioning agents, water)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What OUAI Medium Hair Shampoo is made of, ingredients and materials
OUAI Medium Hair Shampoo is a water-based surfactant blend designed for cleansing and conditioning mid-weight hair. Like most liquid shampoos, it contains anionic surfactants (detergents), conditioning polymers, and preservatives dispersed in water. This formulation type carries lower inherent risk than solid or heavily concentrated products because surfactants and active ingredients are already diluted and designed for brief skin/scalp contact before rinsing.
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 undisclosed fragrance components
OUAI Medium Hair Shampoo lists 'fragrance' as a single INCI ingredient without breaking down constituent allergens (e.g., limonene, linalool, eugenol). Fragrance mixtures in cosmetics are proprietary and not itemized on consumer labels, making individual allergy risk assessment difficult for sensitive individuals.
Preservative-related contact dermatitis
Aqueous shampoos require chemical preservatives to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Common preservatives (phenoxyethanol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, parabens) are listed on INCI but can trigger contact dermatitis in a small percentage of users. No specific preservative formulation for this product is publicly detailed.
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in surfactants)
1,4-dioxane is a known manufacturing byproduct in some ethoxylated surfactants commonly used in shampoos. The FDA does not regulate cosmetics for this contaminant, though it appears in trace amounts in many mainstream shampoos. OUAI does not publicly disclose testing or limits for this compound.
Eye and mucous membrane irritation from surfactants
All shampoos with anionic surfactants carry inherent mild irritation risk if they enter eyes or are ingested; this is why rinsing is critical. The formulation does not appear to claim extra-gentle surfactant systems, suggesting standard irritation potential consistent with the product category.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
OUAI Medium Hair Shampoo is a clear or opaque liquid without decorative coloration; pigments and associated heavy metal (lead, cadmium, chromium) contamination are not a concern for this product type.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
OUAI (owned by Unilever as of 2020) does not publicly disclose detailed ingredient sourcing or cosmetic safety testing results on its website. The brand makes no explicit statement on PFAS avoidance or formulation commitments. No significant safety recalls or substantiated toxicology controversies are on record for this shampoo. Ingredient lists are available on retailer sites but full transparency on preservative systems and fragrance components is limited to INCI naming.
How it compares in its category
This product sits in the mainstream premium shampoo segment; its hazard profile is typical for branded, mass-market formulations. It is broadly comparable to Olaplex, Bumble and bumble, and drugstore brands in terms of regulatory oversight (FDA cosmetic rules) and expected safety margins. No claims of hypoallergenic or clean-label certification distinguish it, making it a conventional choice rather than a precautionary one.
If you buy it
Use as directed, apply to wet hair, lather, rinse thoroughly with water. Avoid contact with eyes; rinse immediately if contact occurs. Store at room temperature away from direct heat or sunlight to preserve preservative efficacy and prevent separation. Discontinue use if scalp irritation or allergic reaction develops. Replace when empty or if product visibly separates, discolors, or develops odor (sign of preservative breakdown).
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
- Ouai 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.