Manuka Honey Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo Shea Moisture
Lower concern, rinse-off liquid cosmetic with no typical PFAS triggers.
This rinse-off shampoo blends natural oils and botanical extracts without waterproof or stain-resistant coatings that typically require PFAS. The brand offers no PFAS disclosure or public lab testing, but the product type presents lower inherent risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
aqueous shampoo; carrier oils (mafura, shea), surfactants, humectants
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
SheaMoisture products typically list 'fragrance' or 'parfum' as a catch-all term covering undisclosed aromatic compounds. Plant-oil and honey-based formulas may contain limonene, linalool, or citral, common allergens in natural fragrances; no specific allergen disclosure for this variant is publicly available, so risk to sensitive scalps is uncertain but not unprecedented in the category.
Rancidity and oxidation of plant oils
Mafura and shea oils are susceptible to oxidation once the bottle is opened, potentially generating free radicals and off-odors but not acute toxins. Stability depends on preservative integrity and storage conditions; SheaMoisture does not specify antioxidant inclusion (e.g., vitamin E, rosemary extract), so shelf-life predictability is moderate rather than guaranteed.
What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
1,4-dioxane (synthetic surfactant contaminant)
Aqueous shampoos can theoretically harbor 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylated surfactants used in cleansing systems. SheaMoisture does not publish surfactant sourcing or third-party testing data for this product; no recalls or regulatory findings cite 1,4-dioxane in SheaMoisture lines, and the brand's emphasis on plant-derived bases suggests lower ethoxylation intensity than conventional dru
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea) are used in some personal-care shampoos. SheaMoisture does not disclose its preservative system in public materials; no regulatory action or recall names formaldehyde releasers in this product, and the brand's positioning makes their use unlikely, though absence of proof is not proof of absence.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Plant-based shampoos with colored botanicals (honey, mafura) could theoretically harbor lead or cadmium from soil uptake. No tested assays or recalls for SheaMoisture products identify heavy metals; regulatory oversight of botanical ingredient sourcing is weak, but no red flags are established for this line.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is a water-based shampoo formulated with plant oils (mafura and shea), surfactants for cleansing, and humectants for hydration. Mafura and shea oils are natural emollients with no documented toxicity concerns in cosmetic use. The aqueous base and oil blend pose minimal risk of chemical leaching compared to powder or aerosol formats, and the absence of silicones or synthetic polymers reduces likelihood of buildup or microplastic shedding.
The brand's record and disclosure
SheaMoisture is a subsidiary of Unilever and markets heavily on natural ingredients and ethical sourcing. The brand does not publish detailed ingredient safety disclosures or third-party certifications (e.g., EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny), though it claims fair-trade sourcing for shea and palm. No major safety recalls or regulatory actions specific to this product line are on public record. The brand's silence on PFAS aligns with most conventional personal-care companies and does not indicate a safety gap in this liquid format.
How it compares in its category
Aqueous shampoos with plant oils are mainstream and represent lower chemical risk than color-treated, sulfate-free, or volumizing formulas that often employ synthetic conditioning agents and preservative complexes. SheaMoisture's formulation sits in the mid-market segment: not premium salon-grade (lower synthetic load) but not budget stripped-down (adequate preservative coverage). Comparable products from Cantu, Carol's Daughter, and Creme of Nature follow similar oil-based strategies without documented safety concerns.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve oil integrity and prevent rancidity (typically 18-24 month shelf life once opened). Use as directed on label; no special heat precautions apply to aqueous shampoos. Discontinue if scalp irritation or allergic reaction develops (contact dermatitis to fragrance or plant extracts is rare but possible). No special maintenance required; standard shower storage practices (drain bottles, allow air circulation) prevent bacterial growth.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 82% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- SheaMoisture has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Shampoo
Credo Beauty
Roz Salt Scalp Scrub
salt crystals, mineral-based scrub
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Mechanical irritation from crystal size and shape
Moderate concern
Low risk, salt scrub formulation carries minimal PFAS concern.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Puracy
Public Goods Shampoo Refill
aqueous surfactant-based liquid shampoo
1,4-dioxane (surfactant byproduct)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)
Limited concern
Bacterial or mold growth in refill container
Limited concern
Lower concern for a MADE SAFE certified shampoo avoiding fluorinated ingredients.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Puracy
Natural Shampoo
aqueous surfactants, plant-derived cleansers
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Lower concern for a liquid shampoo with minimal PFAS risk in this category.
⚠Risky category by default
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.