The best GHD hair straighteners: the tried and tested flat irons for every hair type

One name is utterly synonymous with hair straighteners: ghd. In fact, the best ghd hair straighteners popularized the idea of heat styling at home. Using pioneering, next-gen technology, their stylers promise easy-to-achieve salon-worthy results—minus the scary puffs of steam that suggest we're frying our locks. Given ghd is an acronym for Good Hair Day, it’s no wonder the brand now sells 2 million stylers every year. 

There’s sound science behind the hype, too. All ghd straighteners heat to a consistent 185C within 15-30 seconds—which, says ghd scientist Dr. Tim Moore, is the optimal temperature to create styles that stay in place without damaging your hair. Also worth noting is that no matter which pair of ghd hair straighteners you choose, each comes with an auto shut-down feature. So if yours are inactive for 30 minutes, they automatically go into sleep mode, meaning there’s no anxiety and no danger of singeing your carpet. 

In our guide, the best ghd hair straighteners for you will depend on the texture of your hair and the style you’re looking to achieve (see our in-depth guide to the best hairstyles for every hair type), be it loose waves or—of course—straight hair. To help you decide which model suits you, our contributing beauty expert has tested ghd's top models to assess how well each one performs, and shared with you things like the value for money each one offers, and any extra features they have. And if you're interested, ghd also sells some of the best hairdryers for curly hair, to complete your haircare collection.

The best ghd hair straighteners as reviewed by our contributing beauty expert

Reaching for a smart phone has become second nature, so why not try smart hair straighteners? The Platinum+ took five years to develop and features ground-breaking 'smart' predictive technology that controls heat based on the thickness of your hair (e.g. fine strands don’t need as much), the section you're straightening and the speed at which you style your hair. 

In other words, it predicts your hair’s needs without you needed to think about it, and changes the power accordingly for a bespoke styling experience. During testing, it worked well and we were able to style our hair quickly. We had plenty of heat to style our hair, though not too much that it felt like it was burning. Not only that, but sensors monitor the temperature of the plates 250 times a second, so you know your hair isn't at risk of being singed. Given the sleek design and impressive tech, this top-of-the-range straightener is well worth the investment if you have the cash.

While not as high-tech or speedy to use as the Platinum+, the Gold Styler is a more versatile tool in terms of the styles it allows you to create. Both stylers allow you to create ‘undone’ waves for a cool off-duty look, but the curved design of the Gold’s barrel makes it easy to create blown-out, bouncy curls, too, without the need to invest in a separate pair of tongs. 

There are two sensors to ensure that heat is evenly distributed throughout the plate,  which makes it easier to straighten hair with just one pass, and which also ensures minimal damage to your locks. If quick results in the morning are your thing, we'd advise opting for the first option in our round up of the best ghd hair straighteners—the Gold Styler isn't as quick, so is best for second-day touch-ups and curls when you have a bit more time instead.

This is one of ghd’s most popular models, given the reasonable price tag and the versatile styling options, which makes it one of the best ghd hair straighteners if you're after value-for-money. It features floating ceramic plates that we found flex and glide easily through the hair without snagging. The rounded barrel means you can also easily create waves, as well as stick-straight styles, which during testing turned out really nicely.

The price, while reasonable, reflects the fact that these straighteners still use ceramic heat technology, which just isn’t as powerful as the tech offered in the Platinum+. That said, the IV Original Styler is far from basic, and the perfect model if you are dipping your toes into the heat styling waters for the first time—or if you only straighten your hair on the odd occasion.

What sets the Max Styler apart from the rest of the ghd hair straighteners is the extra-wide plates, which cut styling time in half, specifically for those with thick or curly hair types that may struggle with ordinary, thinner straighteners. Measuring approximately two inches, the plates are 70 per cent wider than those on the Original. It also boasts the same dual sensors as the Gold Styler, for even heat distribution whether you’re looking to create silky-smooth locks or frizz-free waves. 

Because of the size of these straighteners though, they're probably not the best option for shorter or fine hair—they simply wouldn't be worth the price.

Fact: it can be hard to style short hair with regular straighteners. Bangs are even more tricky and involve a heck of a lot of arm ache if you want to avoid singeing your eyebrows. Meet the ghd Mini, where the plates are a mere 1/2 inch wide, making them completely bob-friendly, or ideal for slicking down a pesky cow’s licks. Slim plates like these are ideal for shorter (and finer) locks, so this is a great choice if that's your hair type. Plus, they're super lightweight and less awkward to use than some more cumbersome straighteners, so you shouldn't have trouble styling your hair until it looks just right.

And if you want a great hair wash option for shorter, finer hair (or any hair, really), why not try out one of the best shampoo bars instead of your regular liquid option? Unlike liquid shampoo, shampoo bars often do a better job at not weighing fine hair down.

In fairness, this is ghd’s only cordless straightener—but the newest addition to ghd’s straightener stable is worth the splurge in our opinion. Despite being handbag sized and wire free, it still has the same tech as a regular sized ghd styler, whether you’re looking to create soft waves or sleek styles on the go. 

There’s also the promise of 65% more shine with these ceramic-coated plates—so you can rest assured that you'll be protecting any damaged hair. Powered by a bespoke lithium-ion battery, it can charge fully in just two hours from your car, laptop or plug socket in the gym, and offers 20 minutes of styling at that all-important sweet spot of 185 degrees. The downside is that 20 minutes may not be enough time for you to create your desired look, especially if you have fuller, thicker locks. Despite this, these are the best ghd hair straighteners for those who are constantly on the move.