HAIR | Wise - Canadian, Healthy and Eco-Conscious #CBBgetsWise

I always love supporting Canadian brands and if they are green and eco-friendly it is even better! Based in Montreal, Quebec, Wise launched just this past September and began when a barber colleague noticed that a number of his clients were seeking eco-conscious and healthy hair products. 

This is a men's care line that I am tempted to call "green beauty" as all packaging is recyclable, ingredients are free of artificial fragrances and colors, MEA, DEA or TEA, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates and products are vegetarian (there is beeswax in the pomades).  I loved the minimalist packaging and dishwasher-safe jars the moment I saw them and though I couldn't really use all of the products, my husband gladly became the guinea pig!

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

The Essentials Bundle* is a $105 value sold for $95.00 CDN and contains Wise's most popular haircare products, a sea kelp soap as well as a shampoo refill for the Birch Bark Daily Shampoo which also comes in a 100mL travel-friendly reusable glass bottle for $20.

The Birch Bark Shampoo smells incredibly refreshing, herbal and is quite clarifying. I suffer from a very dry scalp so although this shampoo cleansed my scalp of product and sebum, I did experience some dryness along my hairline. My husband on the other hand was a big fan of this shampoo and did not experience any dryness. He liked the scent and in his very honest opinion "I would use it". Men, I tell ya.

The Sea Kelp Soap (not part of the Essentials Bundle) is handmade in Quebec by cold process saponification and is free of palm oil and is 100% vegan. I loved the simplicity of this soap and its light citrus scent. I'm not picky when it comes to bar soap so even though this was a perfectly good soap, I am more than happy to use almost anything. What MAY sell you on this is the story behind it and the ingredients used.

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

Ingredients (Birch Bark Shampoo): Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Extract, Aqua/Water/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoate, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Betula Papyrifera (Paper Birch) Bark Extract, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood Atlantica) Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis ct verbenone (Rosemary ct Verbenone) Oil, Juniperus communis L. (Juniper Leaf/Branch) Oil, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium Leaf) Oil, Eucalyptus radiate (Narrow Leaf Eucalyptus) Oil, Keratin Amino Acids, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients (Sea Kelp Soap): Aqua (water), Brassica Campestris (Canola) seed oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil., Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil, Ricinus communis (Castor) seed oil, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter, Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) fruit oil, Maris sal (Sea salt), Schinus terebinthifolia (Pink berries) fruit oil, Juniperus communis L. (Juniper Leaf/Branch) Oil, Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange) flower oil. Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium Leaf) Oil. Piper nigrum (Pepper) fruit oil. Fucus vesiculosis (kelp) extract. Vetiveria zizanoides (Vetiver) oil

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

I didn't think anything about the Neem Wood Comb until I looked up the health benefits of using one. Neem wood is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. Combs made from neem wood have no sharp edges, generate no static electricity and gently massage the scalp. It is believed to also  reduce dandruff and other scalp-related health issues. It felt nice and gentle on my scalp, but would not make sense for me to use as I only use a comb for creating my part which requires VERY fine teeth. My husband liked the rounded edges of the comb and said he liked it more than a plastic comb which felt like it was "catching" on his scalp.

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

The Men's Clay Pomade is made with organic glacial marine clay from Northern BC and promotes healthy hair by adding moisture and shine with a medium hold and matte finish. I don't use pomades at all so I left this to my husband who said that although a little product went a loooong way, his very fine hair could not handle the thick consistency of this product. He said it made his hair feel very oily and would probably be better for a "thick head of Asian hair". He's at that age where his hair is thinning so I think this product may have reminded him of that (sorry babe).

*Note* this product also comes in a minimalist tube with no glass packaging

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

Ingredients (Clay Pomade): Kaolin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Propanediol, PVP, Sea Stilt (Gacial Bay Marine Clay), Stearic Acid, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Glycerin, Santalum Spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil, Laurus Nobilis (Laurel Leaf) Oil, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood Atlantica) Oil, Vetiveria zizanoides (Vetiver) Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

The Red Maple Cream Pomade I have here is an example of the minimalist tube packaging that can be used as is in the little recyclable plastic pouch or squeezed out as a refill for a glass bottle. This pomade features red maple bark extract which also provides moisture and nourishment to hair all day. THIS product hubby likes because it is lighter in texture while still providing hold for his hair. I think this packaging is so cool and there are definitely a few products in my life where I could do without the fancy packaging and just go for something like this!

Wise Men's Care Essentials Kit Review

Ingredients (Cream Pomade): Aqua/Water/Eau, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cera Alba (Beeswax), PVP, Stearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Acer Rubrum (Red Maple) Bark Extract, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood Atlantica) Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis ct verbenone (Rosemary ct Verbenone) Oil, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Vetiveria zizanoides (Vetiver) Oil, Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco Absolute) Oil, Abies Balsamea (Balsam Fir) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Betula Alba (Silver Birch) Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Final verdict: I would LOVE if Wise made products that more women could use or skincare and body care! I love the minimalist packaging, the scent of the products, the ingredients and the eco-friendly message. I recycle like a demon at home and I think it's great when companies make the extra effort to go green. Hubby also liked the products and found pricing to be decent for the quality of the ingredients. Wise is new to the beauty scene, but they have promise and I look forward to seeing what they do this year!

You can find Wise at www.wisemenscare.com

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