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Gisou review: The products we recommend from the viral haircare brand
My locks have never been so sleek and shiny!
With over 600 million views on the TikTok hashtag 'Gisou', there's no denying that the honey-infused haircare brand has amassed a large social media following; they first launched in 2015 and have only continued to grow.
So, in the name of doing 'anything for a story' (God really did give us soldiers – aka beauty journalists – his hardest battles), I had to put the most coveted Gisou products to the test. And boy do my bleach-damaged locks need some TLC!
However, before we get into my thoughts on customer favourites, Cosmopolitan UK spoke with Gisou's founder herself, Negin Mirsalehi who shared details behind her ventures into the world of haircare.
Sharing the origins behind the brand name, Mirsalehi says that "Gisou means ‘golden locks of hair’ in Persian – a nod to our Persian heritage." Continuing, she says: "My mum used my father’s honey and made it into hair treatments for my sister and me, which inspired our very first launch, the Honey Infused Hair Oil." And FYI, Mirsalehi explains that this oil is clinically proven to increase shine by 143 per cent, reduce frizz by 19x and deliver 72 hours of hydration and humidity control. Wow.
"The Mirsalehi family Bee Garden is super important to me," Mirsalehi says. "Growing up, we would spend nearly every Sunday there and my sister and I would help my father to tend the bees. My sister and I learned from a young age the importance of honey-making bees – which powers nature’s ecosystems through pollination. A win-win, all-round.
"This summer was a huge moment for us; we opened the very first woman-led Mirsalehi Bee Garden just 10 kilometres from our original Bee Garden in The Netherlands. We always prioritise the bees, putting their welfare first, so we can sustainably harvest honey and propolis only from surpluses."
But what are the actual benefits of using bee honey in hair products? Well, Mirsalehi says that "honey is one of nature's most powerful natural humectants, which means it hydrates, nourishes and protects skin and hair, while also being proven to be rich in antioxidants and microbiome friendly."
Gisou is the result of hard work, dedication and family passions. "To be able to honour my family’s heritage, spread the message of the power bees and benefits of honey and develop the most irresistible, sensorial beauty products with ingredients sourced from my family’s Mirsalehi bee garden has been the most rewarding experience," Mirsalehi concludes.
So, do the bee-produced products really revamp dull and tired strands? Continue reading to find out...
Before we do anything, let's address how adorable the packaging is. I would be lying if I said the honey pot design didn't influence my decision to try Gisou's latest launch, but as a huge fan of the brand, I knew the formula would be just as special too.
What captured my attention about the Honey Infused Gloss Hair Mask was the inclusion of ceramides. Ceramides act as a protective film that keeps moisture locked in. When exposed to heat, our hair will lose ceramides so it's important to replenish them.
Not only is this mask packed with ceramides to smooth and strengthen, but there's also hyaluronic acid and honey to hydrate.
My hair smells absolutely delicious after use, but I'm equally impressed by how shiny it appears – and when you consider the amount of bleach that's been through my strands, that's impressive.
My once brittle ends feel much softer and sleeker after use, and even though the £38 price tag is a little costly, you'll see great results after the first go.
NGL, ever since it's popularity in the industry has grown, hair oil has scared me. Confused? Well, I have incredibly thin hair that I wash on the reg (read: every day), meaning my roots can become greasy pretty quickly. That, paired with my feathered, minimal ends and hair oil sounds like a heavy weight to hold... quite literally.
Alas, in order to restore my bleach-damaged locks, I gave Gisou's best-seller a go – I used minimal product on clean ends as well as lathering up 5+ drops on my roots when creating a slick back bun.
Using this via the latter enabled my lengths to soak up all the goodness of the hydrating ingredients over the entire day, while also taming my flyaways with a chic model-off-duty hairstyle.
Alternatively, apply the night before a morning hair wash and rinse out after 8 hours to reveal a transformation like no other. Adding shine, boosting hydration and taming frizz all in one!
Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil
Holding my hands up, I have somewhat of an addictive personality (my TikTok screen time is a testament to this). However, as addicted as I am to the social media app, working as a beauty journalist means that I have a range of makeup, skincare, haircare etc. products on a constant rotation... meaning, there's little-to-no room for favourites and/or beauty addiction.
I mean, someone's gotta be the guinea pig for you guys!
Having said that, one product that has been within reaching distance as of late is this honey-infused lip oil. Not only does the bottle make for immaculate bathroom shelfies but the silky (not sticky!) hydrating formula and uber-soft doe-foot applicator make for constant re-application throughout the day. And I ain't mad about it! Mwah.
Leave-in conditioner can be hit or miss; some are great for overnight use but too heavy for daily wear, while others mist into clean tresses with ease but seem to not make much of a difference to the hair's health.
This one, however, rivals my all-time fave (I know, impressive), de-frizzing my crinkled morning locks that despite appearance, have been washed the night before.
With a light hand, I spritz this into the ends of my hair – whether clean or not, – brush and go. The creamy, gorgeously scented formula keeps my flyaway-prone hair at bay all day while also adding shine and a silky feel.
Regular perfume is typically made up of an alcohol base and therefore, should not be used in or on hair – damaged strands or not. But was I deterred from the above? No. And here's why.
The minimal alcohol ingredient present in Gisou's Honey Infused Hair Perfume is essential for the product to function as it reduces drying time, increases fixation and acts as a carrier for the other ingredients, says the brand.
This has no influence on the moisture levels of the hair as the alcohol evaporates directly after application. And I can say first-hand that not only does this product make me feel like the main character when wafting people with my presence and its beautiful scent but contrary to what one would assume, it really does add shine. Subtle but much appreciated.
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume Floral Edition 50ml - Wild Rose
After testing and loving the OG Gisou hair oil (as evidenced above), when the newly launched Floral Edition landed on my desk, it's safe to say that I was intrigued.
And 'why is that?' I hear you ask. Well, while I do love the original formula and what it does to my hair (side note: yes, I will continue to gush over it for those of you in the back), rose scented fragrances aren't some of my faves... many – though, not all – do give me grandma vibes.
Having said that, to my surprise, Negin really nailed this blend that fuses the subtlety of wild rise with the brand's iconic honey as well as light and sweet vanilla and bergamot notes. Truly, it's as delicious as it sounds.
The newest addition to the brand's haircare collection is this intense hydration serum. Not only does the formula look good enough to eat but it works to quench dry, thirsty strands. Good enough to drink, some may say.
A standout ingredient (besides the honey, duh) is the plant-based keratin which nourishes and reduces brittle ends. Keratin is one of the key proteins that are responsible for the optimal health of our hair and the one in this serum works to restore strength, leaving lenghts more resilient and less prone to breakage.
If, like mine, your hair has been through the wringer with heat styling or chemical treatments, seek restoration from this lightweight product that can be used day or night. Truly, it's a game changer!
Charlotte Bitmead, Senior Beauty Writer and lover of the above says: My strands knot like loose wired headphones in a jacket pocket, so if I can get a hair mask to detangle my mess of a head, you can count me impressed. Not only did this honey-rich hair mask do just that but my hair was noticeably shinier, softer, and less frizzy after smoothing things over with a dollop of this conditioner.
Did I mention the scent? Heavenly. It is pretty pricey for how dinky this pot is, but I do find I need less of this silky stuff than I would other hair masks I’ve tried. It’s safe to say, I finally understand Winnie the Pooh’s obsession with honey pots.
Out of all the Gisou products listed, prior to trialling, I had the least faith in their shampoo (referred to as hair wash by the brand). Now, as a Leo, I don't like to admit my wrongdoings but between you and I, the efficacy of this product comes as an exception.
On first pump, I expected a thick, sticky honey-like texture (can ya blame me?) but what I received instead was a watery formula, which would make sense seeing as it's 92 per cent natural and sulphate-free. In other words, a no bullsh*t, does what it says on the tin-type clean (!!) product.
On first wash, you may not notice a dramatic difference but after a week's use, I was abundantly aware of the benefits. The gentle cleanse is able to hydrate and also leave hair touchably soft, shiny and certainly more manageable.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
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