The Best Hair Straighteners; GHD Unplugged Vs Original and Platinum+
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I’ve used GHD hair straighteners for 15 years, and would probably run back into a burning house to save my Original Classic. And I once missed a flight, turning the car around when I realised I had forgotten to pack them. They are quite simply the best flat irons available, and guarantee a Good Hair Day.
So you can imagine I was first in the queue to buy their new cordless flat iron – the GHD Unplugged. I’ve been using it daily for 6 months now, and am ready to share my impressions – the good and the bad. We’ll consider:
My Unplugged review
My very first discovery was the pleasure of using a cordless device. Although the Original has a neat swivel cord connector, I now realize how irritating it is to have the cord bumping your body and subtly pulling on your wrist as you shape the back and side of your head.
The Unplugged is well balanced with a full sized handle, and surprisingly light (30% less than the Platinum+). The switch is large, and deliberately recessed and stiff to prevent accidental switching on when travelling. There is a stylish led indicator showing battery level in 20% increments, with a useful warning beep when there are 5 minutes remaining. The materials, design and ergonomics simply exude quality.
I have fairly long, but fine and frizzy hair. The twenty minutes run time was just enough to do a full style. For thicker hair types or complex hairstyles I don’t think the Unplugged would work as your main styling tool. Because the plate size is not as wide, you would need more passes through smaller sections of hair.
But whatever your hairstyle and cut, this GHD straightener is powerful enough for single pass touch-ups on the go. Caught in the rain before a meeting? No problem – 45 seconds to full heat, 5 minutes of de-frizzing – sorted.
The narrower plates have an advantage when doing bangs and tight curls around your face, getting close to the roots.
The included case is heat resistant. This may sound like a small touch, but it’s actually incredibly useful in real life.
You can use it as a heat resistant mat for resting the hot straighteners. But also, it allows you to instantly pack up the GHD without having to wait for it to cool down first. Perfect when you’re pushed for time.
There’s a pocket inside with room for the cable, but not the adapter.
The heating plates use smart technology to rapidly monitor and adjust the actual temperature on your hair. This ensures the irons are as powerful as possible without causing heat damage. The edges of the barrel are curved and smooth, so this isn’t just a tool for hair straightening, but is great for curls and waves.
There are two main drawbacks to consider. The first is cost. The Unplugged is GHD’s most expensive flat iron – by far. I managed to rationalize this investment by dividing by 10. My experience of other GHD stylers is that I can expect at least 10 years of daily use.
The second consideration is the battery. Two hours to a full charge is … not my idea of fast charging. As partial compensation, recharging options are versatile. The USB-C cable will charge just as fast from your laptop, smart vanity mirror or car. I rarely use the wall charger. And the lithium-ion battery is approved for hand luggage on flights.
In another straightener review I came across the author said that the Unplugged can be used while recharging. I can state, sadly but definitely, that this is not the case.
Reviewers sometimes complain about the lack of different heat settings. GHD’s reply would be that you only need the perfect styling temperature, precisely controlled. As GHDs are a favorite of professional stylists, I suspect this is a non-issue.
Features of the GHD Unplugged Cordless Straightener
Alternative cordless straighteners
The most obvious product comparison is with the Dyson Corrale.
In brief, the Dyson cordless hair straightener is much quicker to charge, and with slightly better battery life. The device has 3 different temperature settings.
However, the charging stand is bulky. The styler therefore has the benefit of cordless performance, but is not really portable.
It is crazy expensive!
Long term review of the GHD Classic Original
I’ve had this styling iron for 12 years. It’s a bit battered as you can see, but continues to give perfect results. I’ve heard of women with one bought on their release in 2001 that are still running now!
When it finally dies, I will buy another the same day.
GHD’s ceramic plates were revolutionary when they first came out, and still cannot be beaten. Ceramic plates emit negative ions that help to straighten hair. I’ve tried other hair styler brands, but none give the same glide, texture and shine.
I literally have nothing bad to say. End of review.
Classic Original compared to GHD Platinum Plus
The Platinum+ is GHD’s top of the range straightener. Although it’s a beautiful tool, my honest opinion is that it offers few real-world benefits over the Classic Original.
The supposed advantage is the smart “predictive heat technology”. This is claimed to monitor the surface temperature at the plates hundreds of times per second, and adjust it instantly. So whatever the hairtype, and however thick the section of hair within the straightener, the temperature will be held at a perfect 365F.
GHD claim this decreases heat damage resulting in stronger hair without breakage of the ends, long lasting and improved shine and better hair color protection. I have no reason to doubt their word, but couldn’t confirm it for myself. YMMV if you have different hair type.
One feature that I do like is the wishbone hinge. This prevents strands of hair snagging. And finally, the improved 3 year warranty is nice to have.
GHD Unplugged Cordless compared to the Original
Chose only the Unplugged if:
Choose only the Classic (or Platinum) if:
Consider both tools if:
Caution: Like many luxury brands, GHD straighteners are a target for fakes. If the price seems too good to be true, or there are dodgy reviews, find another reseller.
