The best GHD hair straighteners for silky smooth locks, as compared by our beauty editors
I'm not sure where I'd be without my trusty GHD hair straighteners. They were the first pair of hair straighteners I ever purchased, and at the time, the most money I'd ever spent on anything. I was 13: a couple of years into secondary school and increasingly self-conscious about my naturally wild mane. After being founded in 2001 and quickly gaining cult status, it was GHD's ultra-popular hair tool offering I turned to for a solution.
The GHD Original IV styler was the tool I parted with my money for: the brand's original, fan-favourite hair straighteners (and the place where it all started). The straighteners use ceramic heat technology, work at the optimum styling temperature of 185ºC and deliver shiny, sleek results every time. It's no wonder 13-year-old-me got hooked. They lasted me a solid decade, before finally giving up on me circa August 2019. I'd say that's a pretty good run.
Since their demise, I've tried my fair share of hair straighteners from the brands GHD are often pitted against: Dyson, Remington, BaByliss etc. And loved many. But GHD hair straighteners do still hold a special place in my heart - not least because they're guaranteed to get the job done (with speed). Always. I'd recommend them to all of my friends without hesitation.
Today, GHD still reigns supreme as a market leader. Loved by beauty editors, professional hair stylists and models alike, they've won over 300 (!) awards for the instantly smoothing properties of their irons, hot air brushes, hair dryers, curling wands and hairbrushes.
In the straighteners arena (still their main area of expertise), there are five different variations available to buy on their website... so if you're a GHD newbie (or you simply want to add to your GHD hair tool arsenal), it can be tricky to know which are best suited to your needs. And hair type. And budget. Enter: our comparative guide to each GHD hair straightening tool and what they do well.
Our beauty editors - each of different hair types and concerns - have used and loved each of them since their release. There's the GHD Platinum+ (the newest straightener drop that predicts your hair type and customises your experience in response) right through to the GHD Max (designed for those with long, thick or curly hair).
Is GHD Platinum better than Original?
While the Original is cheaper and provides a seamless styling experience without any flashy features, the GHD Platinum is the better overall hair tool. Why? It uses predictive heat technology that means the plates adapt to the thickness and density of the individual section of hair that you’re working on. Heat damage is reduced, and split ends are reduced also.
So, which GHD hair straightener is the best? Keep scrolling for our full guide.
For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.
ghd Platinum review
ghd Platinum+ Hair Styler, £189, ghd
Best for: Predictive heat technology, which adapts to the specific thickness and density of the section of hair you're working on, to prevent excessive heat damage.
Cord length: 9ft swivel cord
Temperature: 365 ºF
Warranty: 3 years. Every other ghd styler has a two year warranty, so this is a bonus.
Heat-up time: 25-30 secondsWhy we love them: As referenced above, the ghd Platinum+ styler uses predictive heat technology which adapts to the specific thickness and density of the section of hair you're working on, meaning less heat damage. How? The ceramic plates use high-tech sensors that monitor the heat of your straighteners 250 times a second, so micro-adjustments can be made to the temperature of the high-gloss plates. This is a feature the ghd Gold doesn't have, so if you're struggling to decide between the two and are already concerned about your split ends, you may become swayed by the Platinum+.
They serve up super sleek and silky hair in seconds, can easily be used to curl or wave the hair, and the smooth round barrels prevent snagging with you're styling. They come in both black and white, or as part of a gift set in Ombre Chrome to celebrate the brand's 20th anniversary.
Any downsides? The plates don't open quite as widely as those on the ghd IV Original and Gold.
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ghd Gold
ghd gold® Hair Straightener, £149, ghd
Best for: Curling and waving the hair.
Cord length: 9ft swivel cord
Temperature: 365ºF
Warranty: 2 years
Heat-up time: 25-30 secondsWhy we love them: The perfect hair straightener for creating waves, curls and super sleek styles, this model is great for anyone who styles their hair often. And likes to have choice. They feature dual-zone technology and two next-generation heat sensors that maintain the optimum styling temperature of 185ºC for a sleek finish. The plates are smooth and contoured for a snag-free styling experience, and the automatic sleep mode means they'll switch off after not being used for 30 minutes.
Any downsides? There is only one temperature setting. They don't have the predictive heat technology that ghd Platinum+ has.
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ghd Original IV
The ghd Original IV Hair Straightener, £109, GHD
Best for: Getting the job done quickly and at a safe temperature, without any flashy features.
Cord length: 9ft swivel cord
Temperature: 365ºF
Warranty: 2 years
Heat-up time: 25-30 secondsWhy we love them: GHD's OG hair straightener, the Original IV styler is suitable for all hair types and comes in quite a lot cheaper than the Gold and Platinum+. It's the brand's bestselling hair straightener, with ceramic plates, automatic sleep mode if you forget to turn them off and universal voltage. They're smooth, simple, have a long cord and heat up evenly in 30 seconds.
Any downsides? It takes a little longer to style your whole head with the Original IV hair straighteners than it does with the Platinum+ or the Gold, but you'd expect than for the £109 price tag. They also have a shorter lifespan.
Save when you shop for the best ghd hair straighteners with these ghd discount codes.
ghd max styler
ghd Max Hair Straightener, £179, ghd
Best for: Styling long, thick or curly hair in record time.
Cord length: 9ft swivel cord
Temperature: 365ºF
Warranty: 2 years
Heat-up time: 25-30 seconds.Why we love them: Using ceramic heat technology, these ghd hair straighteners are incredibly effective when it comes to stylish thick, curly, long or textured hair. The plates are two inches thick as opposed to the standard one inch, which means you can style your hair more quickly at the optimum temperature of 185ºC. They're also great for creating waves.
Any downsides? They take ever-so-slightly longer to heat up than other straighteners in this edit, but other than that, we were pretty impressed.
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ghd mini styler
ghd Mini Hair Straightener, £119, ghd
Best for: Styling short hair or fringes.
Cord length: 9ft swivel cord
Temperature: 365°F
Warranty: 2 years
Heat-up time: 30 seconds]Why we love them: The ghd Mini Stylers are great if you've got bangs, shorter hair or you just want something to use for quick touch-ups. The smooth, ceramic-coated plates are just half-an-inch wide which allows for precision styling - yet they still have the same power as other ghd models.
Any downsides? Nope, we were impressed.
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