Best GHD straighteners 2025 tried and tested
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IF you want salon-worthy hair, investing in the right hair tools is essential.
Enter the best ghd straighteners on the market, which boast state-of-the-art technology that makes daily hair styling a breeze.
ghd straighteners
The ghd hair straightener range is extensive whether you have long Cher-inspired flowing locks, a close crop pixie a la Emma Stone or bouncy curls like Tracey Ellis Ross.
The brand was launched back in 2001 by a team of hairdressers who sold the (at the time) groundbreaking styling tool into salons worldwide.
Nowadays, ghd is considered one of the best hair straightener ranges and has garnered a loyal following of fans and industry insiders who swear by the results of using the popular hair tools.
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Ghd has an extensive collection of award-winning versatile haircare tools suitable for all hair types and lengths, from the Max hair straightener with wider plates for longer or thicker locks to the ghd mini for shorter hairstyles.
If you're considering investing in a ghd tool, check out our roundup of some of the best ones on the market and our team of experts' honest thoughts.
How we tested
Our team of Sun Shopping testers used the ghd straighteners in this roundup for at least a few weeks to really put each hair tool through its paces.
The testers looked at how easy they were to use and style their different hair types, the functionality of the tool, and how fast the tool took to heat up and cool down.
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Our testers also evaluated the value for money of each hair tool and how long their hairstyles lasted after using each tool.
Best ghd straighteners at a glance
- Best for frizzy hair:
- Best value:
- Best for drying hair:
- Best for fast styling:
GHD Duet
ghd Duet, £379
- Pros: Straightens and dries at the same time, minimal effort, great for long hair
- Cons: Expensive, harder to curl hair
When I tested the ghd Duet, its wet-to-dry function sounded too good to be true and my millennial memory went back to dry-to-wet stylers of the past that promised achingly uncool ruler-straight hair.
But, after a few months of testing, I'm happy to report the Duet exceeded my expectations.
It's the ultimately lazy girl tool, allowing me to simultaneously straighten and dry my hair at the same time.
I put it up against my long mane and within 10 minutes it was almost completely dry.
The 'shine shot' at the end of the process left my hair smoother and shinier with a lovely sleek feel to it.
Because it's a 2-in-1, it needs to be larger than a usual styler and it's probably better suited for those with longer hair.
Tested by Harriet Flook. Read the full ghd Duet review.
Material: Ceramic; Size: 42.4L x 32.5W cm; Heat settings: wet-to-dry and straightening modes; Features: Shine Shot™ mode, 45% less energy consumption, automatic sleep mode, smart styling plates; Maximum temperature setting: 185°C
GHD Unplugged Cordless Styler
ghd Unplugged Cordless Styler, £299
- Pros: 20 minutes of unplugged use, lightweight, able to charge via car or laptop, sleep mode saves battery
- Cons: Charging takes two hours for 20 minutes of use
If you're like me you probably think that a cordless ghd straightener sounds too good to be true.
I wasn't buying into the hype until I tried them.
When fully charged you can carry them around in your handbag for when you need to do a quick style on the go.
The only catch is that you have to charge them for two hours to only use them for 20 minutes because the technology is still relatively new.
But when you can use them, they're light as a feather and perform superbly.
Whether you want to have a quick run over your unruly fringe or to smooth out some frizz in humidity.
Thanks to the trusty USB-C cable, I found it so useful that I could plug them into my laptop rather than a mains plug to charge them.
Another plus? The plates didn't feel mega hot which makes sense because they heat up to 185 degrees which is supposed to be the optimum heat for styling.
Oh and the sleep mode that comes on after three minutes of no use is so great for saving the battery. Love them.
Tested by Harriet Flook. Read our full ghd Unplugged review here.
Material: Ceramic; Size: H32.5 x W13.2 x D11 cm; Programs/Settings: 4; Features: high-speed USB-C charging, 47% lighter and 30% smaller, hybrid co-lithium technology, battery life indicator; Maximum temperature setting: 185°C
GHD Chronos
ghd Chronos Hair Straightener, £289
- Pros: Fast heat-up, lightweight, adaptive technology, speedy styling, smooths hair
- Cons: Can’t take thick sections, pricey
GHD’s Chronos straighteners set itself apart by being one of the lightest hair tools ever.
Not to mention, it’s designed with innovative HD responsive technology that adapts its temperature to suit your hair type.
As someone with thick long hair, I was intrigued to see whether it would work on my hair type as I often have to increase the temperature when I use hot tools to get the style I want.
The Chronos is super easy to use, simply press a button and wait for the sound to indicate that it's ready to go.
The straighteners felt noticeably lighter than any other tools I’ve used in the past and were very comfortable to hold. But on my first go, it took me a while to figure out how to section my hair as the plates were smaller than my typical straighteners and couldn’t take as much hair.
After a couple of tries, I managed to section off the right amount and it became quite a speedy process - taking about 10 minutes to do my entire head. This was one of its best features and I never had to pass each section through the straighteners more than once.
It worked well on my hair type and it never failed to deliver shiny, smooth hair.
Although, at times I did notice I had to use my other hand to properly clamp down some sections when I curled my hair, as it was a bit too light to hold every section.
I particularly loved curling the ends of my hair to mimic a blow-out and was surprised at the amount of compliments I received from friends on how nice my hair looked. Plus, my curls lasted three days without using hairspray which was a bonus.
At nearly £300, it’s a very pricey investment but would be great for anyone looking to invest in a quality straightener they can use for years to come.
Tested by Natalie Chui. Read the full GHD Chronos review here.
Material: Ceramic; Size: H7 x W11.6 x D30 cm Programs/Settings: 1 Adaptive; Features: HD motion-responsive™ technology, 2.7m swivel cord, 85% more shine, Automatic sleep mode; Maximum temperature setting: 185°C
GHD Gold Hair Straightener
GHD Gold Hair Straightener, £189
- Pros: Wider plates than original for quicker straightening, uses the same tech as Platinum Plus to alter the heat to suit your hair, available in several colours
- Cons: None
When I received the ghd Gold Hair Straighteners, my mind was wondering what about them would be different from the Original.
However, once I used them, I realised how different they are.
The plates are bigger, they straighten your hair way quicker and because they use dual-zone technology like the Platinum Plus, they're constantly monitoring the heat which makes sure that your hair is looked after at an optimum temperature of 185 degrees.
A quick once-over was all I needed. The wider plates work their magic.
Better still, if you shop the Alluring Jade colourway, you'll receive a free ghd styling duo gift set worth £45.
Tested by Clara Wolsey.
Material: Ceramic; Size: H12.6 x W14.1 x D34.2m; Programs/Settings: 1; Features: Dual-zone tech, Automatic sleep mode, 360º cord; Maximum temperature setting: 185°C
GHD Max Straightener
GHD Max Straightener, £209
- Pros: Extra thick plates cover a lot of hair, ideal for thick or super curly hair, wavy hair was straight within a few minutes, easy to use
- Cons: Can't curl your hair with these (but you can create flicks)
Another OG GHD that has had people hooked for decades, the Max Straightener is good for covering a lot of hair because of the extra thick plates.
70 per cent larger, they are 1.65 inches in width, ideal for extra thick or super curly hair.
Once you start using these, it's pretty hard to return to the thinner designs because it's just so much quicker. I found that I could tame my wavy mane within just a few minutes, which is ideal as I'm someone who hates taking ages to get ready.
Even if you don't have thick hair, they're just generally a lot speedier and less finicky to use.
The only downside is that you can't curl your hair with these, although you can create a flick at the end and give yourself some volume all the same.
Tested by Harriet Flook. Read our full GHD Max review here.
Material: Ceramic; Size: H31 x W9.3 x D9.1 cm; Programs/Settings: 1; Features: Dual-zone technology, 30-second heat-up time, ghd's widest plates, Automatic sleep mode; Maximum temperature setting: 185ºC
Best ghd straighteners FAQs
- Where to buy ghd straighteners?
- What is the best ghd straightener?
- Is the ghd Platinum+ worth it?
- Do ghd straighteners turn off automatically?
- Best ghd straightener dupes
- Does ghd go on sale for Black Friday?
Where to buy ghd straighteners?
The ghd hair tool ranges are widely available online and in stores across the UK.
Not only can fans pick up any of the ghd hair straighteners directly from , but many of your favourite beauty stores are also stockists, including , and .
There are also many department stores which stock the brand including and , and many ghd straighteners are also available from Amazon.
What is the best ghd straightener?
The best ghd straightener for you will depend on your hair type.
If you have thicker or longer hair it is best to look for a straightener that has bigger or wider plates like the for faster and more effective styling.
If you have shorter or mid-length hair either the or would be best as you'll be able to grip and style hair more easily than something with bigger ceramic plates.
More modern tools from the brand like the model use smart technology to predict the needs of your hair, using optimum heat settings for the perfect styling results.
Is the ghd Platinum+ worth it?
Sun Shopping contributor Sadie Victoria gives her veridict on the ghd Platinum...
- Pros: Leave your hair feeling shiny and healthy, easy to use, heats up really quickly and has long-lasting effects
- Cons: More expensive than other ghd straighteners
- Rating: 4/5
The GHD Platinum + promises to reduce hair breakage by 20 per cent more than the original, along with providing two times more colour protection.
First and foremost, you should know that my hair is naturally curly and annoyingly frizzy – humidity is not my friend.
But after making the GHD Platinum+ straighteners a staple part of my going-out routine for a year, I decided it was time to report back on whether they're actually the best straighteners around.
I can officially say that the biggest benefit of these straighteners is how quickly they get the job done.
Whether you're just smoothing out a frizzy flyaway or want a full-head, dead-straight fix, you can rely on them for results. Lots of people have complimented my hair, saying they've never seen it so straight.
In terms of creating curly looks or bouncy waves, I'm still struggling to finesse it but whatever style I manage to achieve, it always lasts until the next day.
Do ghd straighteners turn off automatically?
All ghd hair straighteners have an automatic turn-off function.
The safety feature has been a key part of the hair tool's design since launching in 2001.
All ghd straighteners can heat up to 185 degrees in seconds but when the straighteners are not used for 30 minutes it will revert to sleep mode and switch off.
Before switching off the ghd tool will beep or sound a short alarm alerting the user it is about to go into sleep mode.
Not only is the function more energy efficient, it also offers ghd users extra peace of mind for when you inevitably leave the house wondering if you switch off your straighteners.
Best ghd straightener dupes?
Despite ghd straighteners being some of the best hair tools on the market, you can find cheaper alternatives if your budget won't stretch that far.
, and offer great affordable hair tools for under £100, some of which are considered great dupes for ghd straighteners.
The is a sleek and narrow design that offers versatility whether you want straight or curl hairstyles and is reminiscent of the classic ghd Original Styler.
The are also a great alternative and provide the same level of technology as ghd.
Does ghd go on sale for Black Friday?
Black Friday falls on the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday each year and marks a period of huge pre-Christmas discounting.
In the past ghd has taken part in the global sale event, slashing the price of various hair straighteners, styling tools and accessories.
Last year the ghd Black Friday sale featured 25% off some of the brand's most popular straighteners including the Original Styler starting which was priced at £111.
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Other retailers also took part in the sale including , , dropping the price of several coveted ghd tools.
You'll have to watch this space to find out what sort of discounts will be available for Black Friday 2025, but in the meantime, it's worth signing up for and social media accounts to find out the latest deals and news from the brand.
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