A Little Straight Talk.. (GHD Mk4 Straighteners)

Member Name: BestMum

Product:	GHD Mk4 Straighteners
Date:	27/03/03 (4620 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick and easy to use, Doesn't need repeating every half hour

Disadvantages: The price, They get so hot you'll need to leave them on the patio outside (or a frying pan) to cool down!

Hair straighteners - what a marvellous invention, provided you purchase the right ones of course. I've had a set of Babyliss straighteners for a couple of years now but they're a bit on the bulky side and were looking a little worse for wear, so a replacement set was in order. Christmas brought me my fair share of dodgy presents, which included a set of Remington SuperSmooth straighteners - now residing in the depths of the attic somewhere. My experiences with these left little doubt in my mind that I was going to have to invest some hard cash. After doing a little research, GHD seemed to come out on top as being the best of a fairly broad selection. There is a catch of course, but I'll save that for later.

So, research complete and admittedly only after a little good fortune came my way, did I set about purchasing said straighteners. And to my utter joy, I found it was pretty darned easy too. Here's the info:

****Who are GHD?****

GHD - Good Hair Day. Eight out of ten for originality I suppose. They are a UK based company, supplying top quality, innovative hair products, although it has to be said their product range is rather limited to the ceramic straighteners at present but we are assured more products are in the pipeline.

This product is THE hairstyling tool of the moment, and is used in salons around the world as well as being a celebrity must-have. The great news is they are available to order through various Internet companies direct to the public as well as from salons listed on their website throughout the UK.

****So what are these wonderful straighteners all about?****

GHD Ceramic Styling Irons, to give them their true title. The front-line in the war against frizzy, hard to manage hair. Whether this rings true for you or you just fancy a super-sleek, super-straight barnet, GHD are guaranteed to become your new best friend.

Long, slim, sleek and sexy, they have la
rge ceramic plates and nothing much else really, making them extremely easy to use, unlike the dastardly Remington SuperSmooth where you can't find the plates for all the plastic casing surrounding them. Grrr.

GHD Irons work ten times faster than ordinary irons, operating at a temperature of 210 degrees. They take just seven, yes seven seconds to achieve maximum operating temperature.

What makes them stand out from the crowd is a negative ion charge created by the irons which seals in moisture and natural oils, meaning they won't dry out your hair with regular use unlike ordinary irons. Because of this, hair is static free, glossy and soft to the touch.

***How to use:****

Very simple really. Next to the ceramic plate you?ll find a little switch with a red LED light. If it pulsates, it's still heating up. Once the light stays on you're ready to go. You may notice as you're using them that the light begins to flicker again. This just means it's keeping the optimum temperature.

You'll find it's easiest to section your hair and then to run irons carefully down a section of hair from top to bottom. But a little warning for you. These irons get extremely hot. Unbelievably hot. The first time I used them I truly was scared for my life. It's probably advisable to move them down the hair fairly rapidly because if you leave them touching the hair, it'll start to smoke! And of course, be careful when using them close to the scalp, the edge of your face, or your ears. And watch your fingers of course!

The good news is that they work so flipping fast that you'll be done in no time - I needed a brandy after my first attempt, just to calm my nerves. If that hasn't put you off, feel free to read on...

****Most suited to:****

All types, lengths and styles of hair. They are extremely versatile, so whether it's a flick, super-straight or cu
rls you're after, the Irons will provide it.

****And how much will this wondrous invention set me back:****

Ah yes, here's the catch. Erm, approximately £89.50, give or take a couple of pounds depending on which site you visit.

****I've picked my chin up off the floor, how do I get my hands on some?****

Well, if you do a 'Google' search you'll come across various companies supplying them, but I bought mine via the official none-too-impressive website - www.ghdhair.com for £89.50, plus postage of £3.53. The Irons arrived in under five days.

****Anything Else?****

They come with a one-year manufacturers guarantee. Included with the guarantee card are some important safeguards, giving tips on using your new toy safely. These include not immersing your Irons in water, and not using the Irons on wet hair.

In amongst the packaging you'll find a basic booklet describing how to achieve various styles with your new Irons, including curls, flicks, and just plain straight.

I actually use mine without any product on my hair, shock horror, and after two months of use, haven't noticed any adverse effects. If you want to though, you can also purchase the GHD Styling Oil for £12.95, which will condition hair and leave a silky finish. Bizarrely enough, this Styling Oil is apparently oil-free.....did I miss something?!

****Downsides:****

Yes, there are just a couple, believe it or not:

**The price of course. Although it has to be said they are truly worth every penny.

**They do take around half an hour to cool down enough to be able to put them away, so you need to find a heat-resistant surface to leave them on, making sure that the extra-long cable isn't in the reach of little hands of course!

**Again, due to them taking so long to cool down, you can't just have a quick flick and then be off. No sticking them into your h
andbag to take with you. And if you're as paranoid as I am, you'll want to spend a good ten minutes making sure they're in a safe place so that they can't set fire to anything within a five mile radius.

****Summary:****

Remortgage, fight, steal or beg, if you do nothing else with your life get your mitts on a set of these. You really won't regret it. I don't even need to re-straighten the day after; my hair keeps the same appearance. And that's a miracle seeing that I currently possess yucky, totally unmanageable pregnancy hair! Although they're quite weighty, they're not too heavy or bulky. Just heavy enough to let you know you're holding a quality tool in your hand.

They're easy enough to use by yourself without having to enrol the help of husband/partner/friend. And the result is excellent, even without using the oil-free styling oil! My hair holds its style without the use of any other product, even if it's been subjected to a little water from the heavens above.

I'd give it five stars but I feel I have to knock a point off just for the fact that it's a pain in the bum to make sure they're stood upright on a heat-resistant surface for half an hour whilst they cool down. I know it's unavoidable, and to perform as well as they do they have to get darned hot, blah blah, but hey, I'm pregnant and hormonal!

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