Moroccanoil · Shampoo
Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo
Lower-concern personal care product; no known PFAS use, but brand is silent on the topic.
Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo is a liquid cosmetic with no disclosed or apparent PFAS-containing ingredients. Shampoos and liquid hair products rarely require water repellency, non-stick, or stain-resistant treatments that drive PFAS use in other categories.
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aqueous shampoo base with argan oil
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo is a water-based formulation designed to cleanse while protecting color-treated hair, with argan oil as a conditioning agent. The product contains typical shampoo surfactants, preservatives, and fragrance compounds in an aqueous matrix. Unlike leave-on products or high-heat appliances, shampoos are rinsed immediately after brief contact with skin and scalp, minimizing dermal absorption of any potentially harmful ingredients. The argan oil component itself is a natural botanical extract with no established safety concerns in cosmetic formulations.
The brand's record and disclosure
Moroccanoil has not published a formal PFAS or « forever chemicals » disclosure policy, which is typical for most mainstream personal care brands outside the premium/clean-beauty segment. The brand has no major product recalls or regulatory actions on record for this shampoo line. Moroccanoil does list ingredients on product packaging and online, allowing consumers to cross-reference against known irritants or allergens. The company is not certified by third-party bodies like EWG or NSF, but certification is not universal in mass-market hair care.
How it compares in its category
This shampoo sits in the mainstream premium segment, positioned between drugstore brands (lower price, simpler formulas) and salon-exclusive or clean-beauty lines (higher transparency, fewer synthetic ingredients). Color-care shampoos across brands typically use similar surfactant and preservative chemistry; Moroccanoil's inclusion of argan oil is common in this category and does not meaningfully differentiate safety. The product does not use silicones or heavy film-formers that require harsh stripping shampoos downstream, which reduces cumulative chemical exposure over time.
If you buy it
Use as directed: wet hair, apply a small amount, lather briefly (15-30 seconds), and rinse thoroughly with water. No special storage or maintenance is required beyond keeping the bottle sealed and out of direct sunlight. For color-treated hair, alternate with a gentle sulfate-free conditioner if your hair becomes dry. Discontinue use only if scalp irritation or allergic reaction occurs (redness, itching, flaking); this would indicate sensitivity to fragrance or preservatives rather than a systemic safety failure.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Moroccanoil Color Care lists 'fragrance' as an ingredient without full disclosure of specific aroma chemicals. Some individuals with sensitive scalps may react to undisclosed fragrance components; reactions are typically mild (localized itching or redness) and reversible upon discontinuation.
Preservative contact dermatitis
Aqueous shampoo formulations require preservatives to prevent microbial growth. While no specific preservative has been flagged as problematic in this product, any shampoo can occasionally trigger scalp sensitivity in susceptible individuals. Risk is low because the product is rinsed immediately.
1,4-dioxane (secondary contaminant)
Some surfactants used in shampoos can carry trace 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct. Moroccanoil has not disclosed testing for this contaminant, and no recalls or alerts have been issued for this product line. Exposure from rinsed shampoo is minimal compared to leave-on cosmetics.
Heavy metals in colorants or pigments
Color-care shampoos may contain iron oxides, mica, or other mineral pigments for visual appeal or marketing. No testing data or regulatory action on this product indicates the presence of lead, cadmium, or arsenic. The aqueous formulation and brief skin contact further reduce absorption risk.
Microplastic microbeads
Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo does not advertise the presence of physical scrubbing beads. Most modern shampoos have phased out microplastics; no evidence suggests this product contains them.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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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.