GHD

GHD: Quality Hair Straightners, Curlers and Dryers For Less

GHD (or Good Hair Day) is one of the biggest beauty brands in the UK. Dominating the salon straightening scene, this hugely popular cosmetics company offers a variety of high-spec, high-performance curlers, dryers, and – most famously – hair straighteners. If you're looking to make your hair care routine easier or you've had bad experiences with scorching in the past, GHD could have the answers. This hotukdeals buyer's guide will help you get to know the brand and cover all of its major products. The end result should be great deals for cosmetics accessories that could revolutionise your beauty routine.

GHD: Telling the History of a Cult Beauty Brand

Good Hair Day started life in Leeds in 2001, when the core team of Susan Powls, Robert Powls, Gary Douglas, and Martin Penny decided to put their knowledge of the beauty industry into practice. Instead of designing the first GHD prototype from scratch, the team used contacts with the South Korean industry to import a style of straightener that had rarely been seen in the UK. But their real expertise was networking. In no time, the company had parleyed a few product launches into an empire supplying salons across the country.

Global sales hit £150 million by 2013, as GHD started to conquer European and North American markets. Its technique of relying on salons to essentially act as salespeople for its products had paid off. Avoiding simple advertising, GHD used word of mouth and the role of trusted beauty professionals to spread its audience – and as a result, the company's straighteners found a place in millions of bedrooms all over the world.

Since around 2011, the brand has focused more on selling directly to consumers, launching its Gold and Platinum collections, tying up collaborations with mega-celebrities like Katy Perry, while sponsoring the kind of TV shows its followers love. It has even made a point of sponsoring Victoria's Secret fashion shows – a sign that it knows its audience inside out.

What Makes GHD's Products Special?

Aside from the relationship between the company and its customers, the firm's key strength is that GHD's products offer what beauty fans need at affordable prices. For example, GHD straighteners have incorporated technology which allows them to minimise scorching while ensuring enough heat to properly straighten the curliest hair. In the past, design changes to elements of its straighteners have provided greater flexibility for users, while safety features have made accessories have reduced the risk of burns or electrical faults.

GHD straighteners: GHD Gold vs GHD platinum

Firstly, buyers need to know the difference between GHD's Gold and Platinum ranges:

• GHD Gold – The Gold collection of straighteners comes with a “dual zone” system which detects where to distribute heat to ensure optimal performance. They are equipped to maintain a temperature of 185 degrees Celsius – calculated to ensure reliable straightening without damaging hair. The plates have been “contoured” to allow a smooth pass-through. Basically, the idea behind Gold straighteners is to provide salon-level beauty experiences in the comfort of your own home.

• GHD Platinum – Slightly more expensive than the Gold range, the Platinum selection arguably takes GHD's technology even further. Described as a “smart” straightener, these devices include sensors which keep track of the heat of the plates 250 times per second – which is even more accurate than the Gold collection. They come with features like universal voltage, so can be used anywhere in the world, while the innovative wishbone hinge allows even more flexibility about how users style their hair.

Both varieties of straightener are a cut above the rest of GHD’s straightener line. As such, they retail for over £100 in most cases. That's why buyers should always look out for them at the hotukdeals GHD listings.

Checking Out The Rest of GHD’s Straighteners

GHD has straighteners available in various sizes, power ratings, and levels of sophistication, so buyers can customise their purchases in quite a few different ways. Here are some more of the more popular varieties that you'll come across at hotukdeals:

• The GHD Mini Styler – Compact, ultra-efficient, and equipped with slimline 0.5-inch plates, the Mini Styler is perfectly proportioned for taking on work trips or beach holidays. It comes with the all-important sleep mode, as well as protective features which means you can slip it into your bag as soon as you're done.

• Original GHD IV Styler - The most affordable straightener in the GHD range, the Original IV was where it all began. More than just a no-frills styling tool, this straightener includes a range of functions that are typical of GHD products, such as ceramic plates, universal voltage, sleep mode, and the rounded barrel. So while it's definitely a notch down from the Platinum or Gold versions, it's still superior to most of the straighteners you'll find in high street beauty stores.

• GHD Max Styler – A step up the price scale from the Original IV Styler, the Max Styler comes with enlargers 2-inch plates which make it the perfect ally for those with thicker, curlier hair. Available to use within 30 seconds of flicking the switch, it's a very capable straightener for anyone with troublesome hair.

• GHD Platinum+ Festival Styler – This limited-edition product from the Platinum collection is probably the smartest model in the brand's product range. Fitted with smart systems which sense how thick the user's hair is, these straighteners can modulate the heat provided to suit each individual. Moreover, they come with eye-catching bags that resist heat, allowing owners to carry them to festivals or holiday destinations without any hassle.

Which GHD Straightener Should I Buy?

So, which model should you go for? Different straighteners will suit different hair types – that's the first thing to note. If you have very fine hair, it makes sense to invest in smarter versions with a high degree of heat sensitivity. That way, you can be confident they won't scorch your hair, which is often a hazard with cheaper, less sophisticated accessories.

Those with thicker hair will have more choices. For them, the key thing is purchasing straighteners with wider plates, which have the ability to pass through dense locks without causing any damage. That way, you'll find it quicker to get ready in the morning, and the results will be superior as well.

Finally, if you're dead set on achieving a completely straight look, squared off plates will be superior. But rounded plates and barrels tend to provide a little more flexibility about adding kinks and waves. By and large, GHD products strike a balance. They let you remove all curves if desired while leaving users with options about contouring. It's a major difference with standard brands, which often feature none-too-subtle square plates.

Picking the Right GHD Hair Dryer

While hair straighteners kick-started GHD's success, the brand hasn't stood still. It also supplies salons and beauty lovers with a sophisticated collection of hair dryers – which could be the ideal complement for a set of premium Gold or Platinum straightening irons. Here's a quick run-down of how the company's dryer collections are organised:

• GHD Air – The main dryer on offer from the brand, the Air has a 2,100W motor – stronger than your average store-bought hair-dryer, comes with a removable filter, as well as plenty of custom options to change the airflow and temperature. This is more or less a salon dryer, transferred to home use, so anyone who wants a professional-style finish can't go wrong.

• GHD Air Festival Collection – As with the firm's straighteners, GHD has released a festival edition of the Air dryer. There's not a huge amount of difference between the two models, both in terms of features and price, although the Festival Edition does come with a couple of extra filters. However, fundamentally, it's just an Air dryer with a slightly different look.

• GHD Flight travel hair dryer – For a completely different take, check out this compact travel accessory. Designed to be stowed away safely in baggage and used anywhere in the world, the GHD Flight travel hair dryer comes with a clever folding handle to minimise its dimensions and is 50% lighter than a standard Air version. It's also around 30% less powerful, but that's excellent performance for a dryer of this size. Moreover, it's quite a bit cheaper than the Air, so it's also a good budget option for general purposes.

• GHD Air Hair Drying Kit – If you're thinking about purchasing an Air, don't forget to check out this handy kit. As well as the hairdryer itself, the Drying Kit features several useful add-ons, including a diffuser, a radial brush, and a protective cover. Added together, their value is around £40, but the price of the kit is usually about £20 more than the Air.

What to Look For in a GHD Curler

Curlers are the third part of GHD's core product catalogue. Again, the company offers a variety of different styles and price points. Here are the main options buyers will have to choose between when they browse for GHD offers at hotukdeals:

• GHD Curve tongs – GHD offers two different types of tongs in the Curve collection. If you need to maximise volume, the Soft Curl tongs will be preferable. They work better with longer hair, creating luxuriantly soft, rippled curls from the root. The Classic Curl is all about creating reliably consistent curls and works best on shorter hair. Both tongs come with long cords for flexible usage, include a safety stand to prop the tongs when they aren't in use and have “cool tips” which let users twine curls safely without the risk of burns.

• GHD Curve wands – The other option is to choose a curling wand. As the name suggests, the Creative Curl wand is all about using your imagination to whip up outrageously voluminous curls and is ideal for use with shorter hair. The Classic Wave version has a slightly bulkier barrel and is optimised for longer hair, allowing users to create what GHD calls “Hollywood waves.”

Video: hair tutorial | embellished touseld waves

How Do GHD’s Products Compare with the Competition?

By now, we've got a fairly good idea of what GHD manufacture, and the various sub-categories in their major collections. But buyers will also want to know how GHD products fit into the wider (and very competitive) world of beauty accessories. So, are GHD straighteners the best? Does the same apply to their curlers or dryers? Let's find out.

At the high end of the straighteners market, GHD goes head to head with Cloud 9 (owned by one of the co-founders of GHD). Cloud 9's products are generally more expensive, thanks to the special “mineral-infused” plates they use. These plates claim to deliver the same styling potential as GHD's products but at lower temperatures. An LED panel also makes it simple to decide which temperature to use – something that GHD haven't introduced. In reality, this is a marginal consideration for everyday users, but salons are embracing Cloud 9 in a big way. For normal stylists, a price comparison at hotukdeals may be the best way to decide.

In the world of dryers, it's a question of buying either the GHD Aura or the Dyson Supersonic. There's no question that Dyson's dryers are smarter. On-board CPUs receive information about temperature constantly, ensuring that hair damage isn't a factor. However, both GHD and Dyson are up to speed where it really counts: ensuring an even, rapid drying experience. Both use ionisation to dry hair quickly. The dryer from Dyson has a unique look that will seduce some people, but GHD's dryers are easier to customise via attachments. This contest will come down to personal taste.

With curling tongs and wands, GHD is facing stiff competition from Cloud 9, as well as T3 and Babyliss. Babyliss delivers excellent build quality for the prices it charges (which can be £50 less than comparable GHD models), but its curling products aren't nearly as sophisticated as GHD's. Products like the T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand are closer to the GHD Curve collection, offering interchangeable barrels. This extra flexibility is great for salons or households with a few different hair types. But it's probably not crucial for individuals. Overall, the Curve remains at the top of the tree, so you can be sure that you'll be purchasing a high-quality accessory.

Tips for Using GHD Products Safely and Effectively

If you purchase a set of straighteners or curlers from GHD, you'll want to extract maximum value from your purchase, and there are a few things to keep in mind when you start using your accessories.

For starters, there's safety. Most of us will have forgotten to turn straighteners off after using them, and that can potentially lead to all sorts of nasty situations. So do GHDs turn themselves off or are customers required to be disciplined, in the old-fashioned way?

Fortunately, GHD specialise in mixing performance and safety. Virtually all of their products come with sleep features which turn off heating elements within 30 minutes of users putting them down. This should minimise the danger of accidentally touching them, or burning things like bedding or clothing.

Cleaning is another consideration. By and large, GHD heating plates are pretty easy to clean. To do so, turn them off and unplug them, then use a slightly damp cloth and a dab of shampoo to give them a brief wipe down.

If you intend to carry GHD hair straightener around town or on trips abroad, storing it in a protective bag is a good idea (you can pick them up for very little from the GHD store). If they are well maintained and stored properly, GHD products tend to last 8-10 years. And remember, the company offers a 2-year warranty, so take advantage of it if problems arise.

How and When to Make a GHD Purchase

Whether you need a set of straighteners, a cutting edge curling wand, or a futuristic Aura hair dryer, GHD has the products you need. However, it's not a budget brand. Almost all flagship GHD devices retail for over £100 at face value, potentially leading buyers to seek alternatives from cheaper manufacturers like Babyliss.

Downsizing your ambitions isn't usually necessary. It's almost always possible to find GHD deals that dramatically cut the cost of elite beauty products. Buyers just need to know where and when to look.

When it comes to timing, Black Friday is a good place to start. The pre-Christmas sales bonanza regularly sees a huge GHD sale, with the brand's products plummeting in price. Amazon is also a major GHD seller, so its Prime Day extravaganza in mid-summer is worth checking out.

However, the biggest savings come from comparing GHD deals. At the hotukdeals, we bring together all of the most recent money-off deals and bundles from UK merchants, including the biggest retailers of GHD accessories. You'll find big savings from John Lewis, Amazon, ASOS, Tesco, Argos, Fabled, Feel Unique and many other big names. So have a look around and keep your options open – it's the best way to snag unbeatable GHD offers.

Freshen Up Your Beauty Collection with GHD Products from the hotukdeals Listings

If you want gorgeous curls or you need beautifully straight hair, you'll appreciate the value of good hair care accessories. GHD is one of the finest makers of straighteners, curling wands, and hair dryers around, providing features that competitors lack. But their products aren't always cheap. Find the lowest prices for the finest haircare kit by checking out the GHD hotukdeals listings.