Gisou Hair Oil Review: Is this Cult Serum Worth the Money?

Main Image – Live That Glow

While I already have a fully stocked (over-stocked, let’s be honest) drawer of beauty products, I couldn’t resist dipping my toe into the oh-so-aesthetically pleasing world of Gisou.

Created by Instagrammer, Youtuber and sixth-generation beekeeper Negin Mirsalehi, this ridiculously photogenic line will be familiar to anyone who has spent more than half an hour on Instagram- and is fast becoming a cult classic.

Given that the prices are on the luxe side though, is the line’s cult classic- Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil worth the money?

Here’s our honest review of the iconic hair oil.

 

 

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This is new, up-to-date information. We updated this article in June 2023 to add further ways to use the product complete with updated prices.

 

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What is Gisou’s hair oil?

First up, while this is product is described as a luxurious hair oil, the ingredients make this much more of a serum.

The first two ingredients are actually a silicone and a silicone oil- cyclopentasiloxane and dimethiconol- giving this more of a serum-like feel and adding shine to my hair.

Like the rest of the line, Gisou’s hair oil takes a lot of its inspiration from honey too; both in its ingredients as well as its look and texture.

 

 

The thick, runny feel as well as a rich golden colour make this curiously edible looking and the oil does indeed contain honey (from the founder’s own Mirsalehi bee garden) … and with good reason.

Honey acts as a natural humectant, binding water from the atmosphere to hair, which in turn helps to boost hydration levels. The ingredient is also a powerful antibacterial; great for scalps suffering from dandruff or infection.

Nourishing coconut oil and passionflower seed oil (an anti-inflammatory) also benefit scalp health, while sweet almond and argan kernel oils moisturize and contain Omega 3 and vitamin E (an antioxidant) to promote hair health.

 

 

For more tips on how quickly hair grows and how to do it quickly check out our guide here, or if you really want to look after hair health take a look at our guide to cleaning your hairbrushes (and why you really should).

Finally, tiare flower extract and added perfume provide the scent while colorants add to the oil’s rich honey-like tone.

Find the full list of ingredients at the bottom of the article.

 

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What does it do?

The product is billed as a multipurpose hair treatment to repair and restore frazzled, dry or damaged locks.

Gisou explains it can be used as, “pre-styling and finishing product, as an addition to a hair mask and as an overnight treatment.”

That means you can use it on both wet and dry hair, as well as combined with other products.  More on *exactly* how to use Gisou’s Hair Oil below.

In my own experience getting through an entire travel size bottle of the stuff (both as a serum and with a mask), I can’t promise I’ve noticed any hair repairing properties. What I can attest to though is this serum’s power to defrizz, soften and hydrate my own (triangular, fluffy) locks.

 

 

Given its multiple moisturising ingredients though, can Gisou’s Hair Oil make hair oily?

Not in my experience.  On my own fine strands, a couple of drops of this stuff simply adds a silky shine without any greasiness.   As with any product though, if you go overboard you can expect to look a little on the day 3 hair side.

Also, despite the thick texture here, once warmed up between my hands this melts to work through strands quickly.

 

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How to use Gisou’s Honey Infused Hair Oil

As a multipurpose product, you can apply this serum in a whole host of ways, making it something of a draw for those who don’t want to have to buy a bunch of different products.

Here’s every single way you can use Gisou’s Hair Oil.

 

On wet hair

You can use Gisou’s Hair Oil on either wet or dry hair, since silicone rather than oil-based means it won’t prevent wet hair from drying properly (like a pure oil would).

Run a couple of drops through damp hair to restore hair’s natural moisture balance and leave my strands relatively frizz-free.

Can you use it as a heat protectant though?

While it’s not specifically designed as one, the oil’s honey does vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants which can protect hair.

Gisou’s Hair Oil also contains both coconut oil, argan kernel oil and silicones, which also serve as heat protectants.

If you’re really concerned about heat damage though, it may be better to stick to something specifically designed to protect against it, like Gisou’s own heat protectant.

 

On dry hair

A dime-sized amount of this on dry hair works brilliantly for styling and smoothing, adding instant shine and taming flyaways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Gisou (@gisou)

 

Overnight

This multi-purpose hair oil also works as a nourishing treatment, helping to moisturise and condition. But how long do you leave it in for?

Gisou suggests using 3 to 4 drops as an overnight treatment by working through the hair in sections before going to sleep with your locks in plats.

I’ve also found that used overnight this leaves my hair impressively soft and moisturized the next day- delivering on its claims as an overnight treatment.

 

 

But can you put Gisou’s hair oil on your scalp too?

Yes- since honey is both a humectant and an antibacterial, this oil does a pretty good job of soothing dry, itchy scalps too.

Gisou explains, “Oiling the scalp is good for your hair. Just a tiny bit of the Honey Infused Hair Oil will do the job.”

Since it contains silicones too though (which can build up in hair, leaving it limp), just make sure to use a scalp scrub regularly too.

 

With a hair mask

Equally, mixed into conditioner this does add something of a moisturizing boost, (but probably no more than just adding a few drops of any other hair serum).

Mix three drops with your mask and leave for 5 to 7 minutes or overnight.

For more on how to do this, browse our full Honey Infused Hair Mask review here.

 

 

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What does Gisou Hair Oil smell like?

Finally, it wouldn’t be a product review without touching on the fragrance the entire Gisou line is known for.

The light floral scent- which possibly would have been enough to make me buy this alone- is warm, sweet and ever so honey-like, making the overall fragrance summery and feminine…and I’m a huge fan.

 

 

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How much is it?

The serum is available from £35 for 50 ml from Cult Beauty and from $25 for 0.7 oz/20 ml from Sephora.

 

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 The full list of ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Mirsalehi Honey, Sweet Almond Oil, Argania Spinosa (Kernel) Oil, Cocos Nucifer (Coconut) Oil, Passiflora Incarnata (Seed) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 47000 (Yellow 11), Tocopherol, BHT, CI 26100 (Red 17), Butyiphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hyrdoxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool

 

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The takeaway

So is Gisou’s Hair Oil worth it?

Overall I can honestly say I enjoy the shine and moisturising qualities this offers for my hair type.

For cheaper dupe though I also really like Function of Beauty’s Hair Serum or the excellent IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm.

So for the price though would I rebuy Gisou’s Hair Oil? Yes, I definitely would- but there are still brilliant alternatives that are a lot cheaper if it feels like a lot for a serum.