Hair straighteners . . . how to choose?

[shivvy]

I am interested in buying hair straighteners but don't know what I need to consider.
Any tips about what to look for or what to avoid?

Thanks.

[MrIncredible]

MY wife swears by GHd...I just swore at the cost of them! but apperently there the best! just be wary of buying them on-line there are a lot of fakes!
you can check genuine retailers by going on the GHD website.

[whiskeysheri]

Without a doubt: GHDs, shivvy. Everyone I know who has tried anything else ends up buying a pair eventually. They're pricey, but worth every penny; and I'm pretty tight. :) You certainly get what you pay for and if you look around, you can usually find a decent deal somewhere, although try to ensure they're genuine.

[ummmm]

I will check out my brand in a bit. My daughter has GHD's and I have ??? and there isn't really any difference.

What kind of hair do you have?

[-mermaid-]

I don't think you necessarily need to splash out on GHDs, not arguing with the fact that they're great, but out of my student budget! I bought some vidal sassoon straighteners from boots a few years ago which cost £35 and they're still going strong today and work well! Boots/Argos can have some good deals if GHDs are too expensive. =]

[shivvy]

Thanks guys - I'll go and have a look at GHDs now.

[ladybirder]

The GHD website has some useful information shivvy telling you what sort you need for your kind of hair. Whether you want to spend £100 though is up to you.
I bought a pair from Costco called Wahl (German I think) which cost me about £15. I've had them for 8 years and they've been brilliant. They get good reviews.
I would love somebody to explain what it is about GHD's that is so good to warrant a price tag of £100+. I don't mind paying for the best but can someone tell me what it is that makes them the best? This is a serious question, I'd really like to know.

[4getmenot]

any other ceramic straighteners that go up to 230degrees are as good as ghds. I like mine to have an automatic switch off after 60 mins to be on safe side. You can also get more rounded ones that will straighten and curl.

[4getmenot]

ghds is just a name. What makes them good to some people is thats everyone has them. Most have not even given others a try.

[shivvy]

Hmm - the GHDs really are a lot more expensive aren't they?!

I only plan to use them very occasionally and my hair is very fine so I'm not sure I need to go for the GHDs?

[ummmm]

Don't bother with GHD's then. It'll be a waste of money.

Have you looked on Amazon where you can read reviews?

[shivvy]

I know that GHds get the good name but there seem to be so many other well known hair product brands that sell them eg tresemme, remington, babyliss etc

[shivvy]

Yes ummmm i'm on amazon now and find it hard to look past these . . . .

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[4getmenot]

i had babylis 230, they were good. Tesco have reduced hair straighteners at the mo. Babylis, treseme etc

[erin-x]

The only straighteners I will use are my GHD's and my mums Remmington ones which are very very good... I always used Remmingtons before I got my GHD's.

[ladybirder]

If the 230 means they heat to 230 degrees then they should be fine as 4getmenot says.

[Ann]

I've never used hair straighteners so this perhaps sounds really stupid, but can you curl with them too, wrap hair round them? I have really long hair for which I use a hot styling brush (Braun smoothstyler with steam which uses gas canisters) For some unknown reason (maybe 'elf 'n safety? as they have the cheek to get hot!?) Braun have discontinued them and I am gutted as I use it every day and have done for years. There is nothing similar on the market at the moment and mine is rapidly wearing out so need something to replace it. Any advice would be welcome please....

[erin-x]

Ann.. I don't know if you can still get the Babyliss Gas Styler? I know we still sell the Babyliss gas canisters in the shop (superdrug). We still sell the braun ones as well. Not sure about the actual Braun brush though. Have you checked online at argos and stuff?

[4getmenot]

the straight and curl with rounder edges do, but i dont know how good they are x

[ummmm]

That's what mine are...Remmington.

[shivvy]

Think I'll go for those ones on amazon.
They have 51 reviews and all are either 4 or 5 stars apart from one three star which was from someone who said that they struggled to straighten their afro-caribbean hair. I could understand that that person might need something more professional/stronger/expensive but my hair is very fine so I think that little pair for twenty quid will do me fine.

Thanks for all your really useful posts. Very much appreciated.