Best ghd straighteners 2023: Jump menu
1. Best overall: ghd Platinum+
2. The bestselling one: ghd Original IV
3. Best for drying and styling: ghd Duet Style 2-in-1
4. Best for travel: ghd Unplugged Cordless
5. Best for curling and waving: ghd Gold
6. Best for thick or long hair: ghd Max
7. Best for short hair and bangs: ghd Mini
8. Best straightener brush: ghd Glide Hot Brush
Can you imagine a world without ghd straighteners? You could bank on a few more bad hair days at the very least. Since 2001 the cult brand has led the way in cutting-edge styling tools for every hair type and look, and we're huge fans.
Over two decades on from the Original Styler's launch, ghd has a vast range of the very best straighteners you can find anywhere – and we've tested them all. This brand has won hundreds of awards over the years, created the flat iron of choice for top stylists globally, and is still the go-to brand for home straightening. If you're shopping for this year's Black Friday ghd deals, we've even got a dedicated page.
"I’ve had a ghd styler in my kit bag forever," says leading hairdresser Adam Reed, the brand's global ambassador. "I remember the first time I used one and being blown away by what it could do. I still get the 'OMG effect' every time I use it to create something new."
The good news is that, with so many options to choose from, there's almost certainly a ghd styler that's right for you. As well as some of the best hair dryers and best hair straightener brush options on the market, the brand has flat irons aplenty including the new dryer-styler hybrid that's going viral. From wide plates for curly hairstyles to mini versions for short hairstyles and cordless models for on-the-go, we've tried and tested them all – and these are our honest thoughts.
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The quick list
The best ghd straightener overall
If you're looking for a sleek, straight finish with minimal damage and an easy-to-use design, this is our standout pick. The Platinum+ also has predictive technology, which adapts to the hair's density and thickness.
The bestselling ghd straightener
The Original styler from ghd is the one we probably all bought as our very first hair straightener, and this upgraded version continues to be the bestselling hair tool from the brand. We still love how easy it is to use, and it's one of the best for anyone new to straightening their locks.
The best ghd straightener for drying and styling
If you're someone who likes to reduce the amount of time you spend styling your hair, this two-in-one dryer and styler is ideal. Plus, if hair health is your priority, the Duet only goes up to 150ºC for drying and 120ºC for straightening.
The best ghd straightener for travel
This lightweight, cordless styler is one to pop in your bag for trips away, and its nifty shape makes it perfect for quick styling top-ups as well as for using around the crown or any other areas which are trickier to get to.
The best ghd straightener for curling and waving hair
This was our favourite ghd tool for not only straightening the hair but also creating gorgeous curls and waves. It's lightweight, heats up very quickly, and can be easily manoeuvred to create curly styles that won't do too much damage to the hair.
The best ghd straightener for thick or long hair
The plates on the Max are double the width of the standard ghd plates, so if you have particularly thick and/or curly hair that takes a while to style straight, this is the option for you. We loved how smooth our hair looked after using the tool, with minimal damage and frizz.
The best ghd straighteners, tested by our beauty experts
The best ghd straightener overall
ghd's most premium straightener is often pitted against the Dyson Corrale – so if you're weighing up the Dyson Corrale vs ghd Platinum+, there are a few things to consider. The Platinum+ features predictive heat technology, intelligently adapting to hair's thickness and density – meaning more control, less damage, and fewer split ends. We loved the speedy heat-up time, a tiny 15 seconds, while the wishbone hinge made styling feel easier than some of the older models.
Thanks to the smooth plates, we could straighten and wave hair in record time, which meant less time exposed to damaging heat. (Do bear in mind that less damage still means you need to take care with heat, especially if your hair is brittle or colour-treated. There is no such thing as a damage-free straightener.) Another plus about Platinum+ is that, in case your model misbehaves, it comes with a three-year warranty, while all other ghd hair straighteners come with two.
"ghd Platinum+ is a one-stroke wonder. It gives the best results and incredible shine in just one stroke," Reed says. "The thing I love most about it is that it has made things so easy. The wishbone hinge takes all the effort out of styling as it keeps the hair perfectly in place, and the finish it gives is spot on for today – beautifully smooth while retaining volume and movement. No matter whether a client has super thick hair or incredibly fine hair, I know that by using the Platinum+ I will get a consistent result and a beautifully smooth finish across every hair type.”
See our full ghd Platinum+ hair straightener review
The bestselling ghd straightener
"The ghd styler is the original and the best. In fact, it’s fair to say it’s genius," says Adam – and we have to agree with this high praise. Can you believe it was 21 years ago when the ghd Original Styler first landed on shelves? A total game-changer, the hot tool quickly became world-famous; now, two million are sold every year across the globe. While it remains a bestseller, the team at ghd has decided to give the original styler an upgrade, using the latest technological advancements.
On testing, we found there was something pleasingly familiar about this, while also offering a sense of 'newness' with its souped-up features. The difference is that the plates now boast a gloss coating, and we did notice even sleeker smoother results. The ceramic heat technology is as effective as it ever was but now ensures there’s no extreme heat, using the optimum styling temperature of 185°C. Design-wise, it retains its classic sleek look with slim plates, which made curling, waving, and straightening our strands super easy.
This was the most simple and straightforward styler we tested, and it would be almost impossible to go wrong with this hot tool. It does take a little longer to cover the entire head when compared to the Max or Platinum+ models, but the slimmer handle allowed us to get right into the hairline when styling. The new version also features single-zone technology so that the heat is evenly distributed across both ceramic plates to help effortlessly style your hair. "ghd original is the perfect tool for those starting out on their ghd journey and wanting to create beautiful simple styles with shine and smoothness," Igor Rago, ghd Italy's art director explains.
See our full ghd Original IV hair straightener review
The best ghd straightener for drying and styling
It's typical, you wait years for a new ghd straightener and two come along at once. Well, to be completely accurate, a two-in-one has come along. And seeing as ghd is excellent at creating both hair dryers and straighteners, we had high hopes for this. Shall we start with the good? The Duet styler is clearly a very advanced piece of kit. It combines targeted airflow with four slimline plates on either side of the central air vents and does a pretty great job of drying and smoothing hair in one fell swoop.
Our thick-haired tester found it took only a few passes on each section of rough-dried hair to achieve the same result she would with a separate dryer and straightener. It also doesn't knock every inch of texture from the hair as flat irons sometimes can, rather it smoothes and styles. The main benefit here is convenience. Only using one tool is less hassle in itself, and you'll spend less time styling. It also benefits hair health, as the dryer gets up to 150ºC and the plates 120ºC (both lower than ghd's standard 185ºC temperature) Although if you do rely on high heat to get a sleek finish, you can use Shine Shot mode to do so.
And the not-so-good? It's larger than other ghd straighteners, although you have to factor in that this is a hair dryer as well, in which case you could actually say it's quite small. It's also a little noisy at first, although we found it quietened down with use. You will also need to practice a few times to get the knack, as is the case for any new technology. And that's what this is, something completely new and quite exciting that brings another option to the very well-stocked ghd stable.
See our full ghd Duet Style Review
The best ghd straightener for travel
