I am only newly introduced to GHD’s. I got mine at Christmas and I now absolutely adore them.
I’ll admit it, for years I was so pleased with myself for not spending a fortune on straighteners of any kind. That was until November when, on a weekend away with the girls, I used them to curl my hair for the first time… To be fair, I did own a set of cheap old straighteners, but they were never really very good so I didn’t use them.
~~~ The Product ~~~
The actual straighteners are sleek, black and much more rounded than previous models. They have a salon length cord which swivels and an on/off button which, it seems, is a new feature.
The ceramic plates are about 9cm long and 2.5cm wide. This is the perfect size for short, medium and longer hair. They are recommended for very fine to thick hair but not for very thick hair.
The actual barrel is very pleasing to look at. Jet black and matte. The plates are a kind of gold colour and very very smooth.
When switching on the straighteners you will hear a little two note bleep – your GHD’s saying “I’m on!” then about 20 seconds later you will hear another bleep which I always imagine as “I am ready!” (yes I should stop personifying inanimate objects.) I love this feature. They actually tell you when they’re at the right temperature. Wonderful!
They also switch to sleep mode if you leave them on but not in use. They emit a warning sound periodically to remind you that you have neglected them and they are sitting there, still on…being a fire hazard. This is a lovely and very safety conscious feature.
~~~ Using them ~~~
My hair is quite long. The texture is quite fine but I have a very full head of hair. The kind of hair that gives you a headache if you have it up in a ponytail for too long. It’s quite straight but takes a very good curl with rollers etc.
On first trying the GHD’s I just straightened the little front parts of my hair… wow! I wasn’t even sure if they had TOUCHED my hair! But there it was – shiny and straight, smooth and sleek. The amazing thing about these is that you really don’t feel them running through your hair. They’re so smooth. That’s great because I was always worried about damaging my hair with them, but they go through so smoothly that no damage can occur!
I have to admit, their straightening power is so hardcore that I would never do my full head with them for the simple fact that they would straighten my hair a little bit too much, but for making the ends look nice and choppy or smooth and sleek they’re perfect for me.
Because of the style of my hair at the moment I use my GHD’s to put bounce and flicks into my layers particularly at the back. This is so effective and the style lasts all day.
~~~ Curls ~~~
The main reason I got these straighteners was to be able to curl my hair. Because of the rounded shape of the barrel, these straighteners are probably one of the most effective ways to curl your hair quickly. As I have already said, my hair is long and I have loads of it. If I were to put rollers in I would need to leave them in there overnight like Marge Simpson; and I don’t know about you but I find it impossible to sleep with rollers in.
The GHD’s are a miracle. My hair is halfway down my back at the longest and it only takes me 30 minutes to achieve a full head of curls. What I love about my GHD’s is that I can have a whole variety of shapes and styles of curl. I NEVER want that “I curled my hair with the straighteners” look that so many girls seem to go for. I usually opt for very natural, bouncy curls. They look very soft and round and perfectly formed as far as curls go. This is my everyday curly look which lasts right through til the following day (although I always wash it out, some people do get away with keeping it!)
If I’m going out and fancy some curls I will either use the straighteners to wave my hair and curl the ends only, or I will spend a little longer and give myself beautiful bouncy ringlets which, because of the length and weight of my hair, fall into deep curls and waves with long ringlet ends. This probably takes slightly longer, about 40 minutes. But it’s so worth it as it lasts an entire night out, dancing away and running through wind and rain to get to the club. All I do is shake out my curls when I get to the door and that’s me!
To make the curls look natural, you really have to get a little routine going. Lots of people kind of pull the hair down the way and the curls end up looking almost angular and too uniform.
~~~ For natural curls ~~~
Section your hair off into back and sides.
Start at the back – depending on thickness, section in off into between 3 and 5 layers.
Pin the top layers up and leave the bottom one hanging.
Take a small section (1 inch) and place the straighteners over the hair.
Now turn them 90* so that the hair is turning up the way.
Take the length and put it over the top so that the piece of hair is going through the straightener and around the barrel.
Now draw the straightener down the length of hair while slowly turning it around.
When you reach the end be gentle and let the curl just bounce out.
At this point you can separate the curl if you wish or leave it whole for a chunkier look.
Repeat with the rest of this section.
I’m not sure if I have explained that properly, but it seems to make sense! Basically you put the hair in and turn the barrel whichever way you like. I have just found that turning it up the way or out the way will create a much more natural look.
~~~ Conclusion ~~~
GHD’s are expensive. They’re currently £92.51 on Amazon. That’s a lot of money to spend on your hair. But I think that if you really want a straightener which is reliable, effective and minimises damage to the hair then they’re a good buy.
This is the perfect produce for quick and easy straightening and effective, easy curling. They come with a warranty and a lovely heat proof case. As I use these for styling rather than straightening, I would say that if you want a product that can give you a full head of curls that stay bouncy – buy these. They’re quick and easy to use and make your hair look fantastic
Tags: ghd, GHD hair straighteners, GHD Straighteners, Product reviews