where can you buy ghd's? sorry for butting in but reading this thread and thinking of buying some straighteners for my mum for xmas - she has shortish extremely thick hair

I agree you on this one, I prefer FHI to GHD's they heat up hotter and have temperature control (know the original GHD's didn't have this but I've heard the new ones do). I bought GHD's years ago when the first batch came out and mine blew up just after a year, I got my father to repair them as he's quite handy with things like that, they were ok for 6 months then blew up again. He then repaired them a further two times, the second time they lasted for almost a year then they blew up again, the third time they lasted around 4 months, after that I decided to bin them.

After I ditched the GHD's I looked on the internet for an alternative that were cheaper and performed as well as the GHD's did, because I thought then that GHD's were the 8th wonder of the world. I had seen and read a lot of good reviews about FHI's, so I decided that my sister would be the guinea pig to test them as she wanted straighteners for xmas, so I bought her the FHI's. Once they arrived curiosity got the better of me and I had to try them to make sure that they worked ok. I was amazed that they produced the same results as GHD's as I was convinced that no-one could make anything similar or better than GHD's, and boy was I wrong. I ordered myself a pair and they are still like new after almost 2 years.

A work colleague of mine is on her second pair of GHD's in three years and her second pair are starting to play up. I recommended the FHI's to her and she is going to buy them instead of GHD's as she feels that they are a waste of money and not built to last long if they are constantly used on a regular basis. She uses her GHD's every morning, and I used mine at least 3 times a week. Another of my colleagues has had hers for around 3 yers and hers is still working okay but she only uses hers once a week.

If you are going to be using GHD's regularly (3 or more times a week) they won't last. I won't buy another pair of them due to the experience I've had with them and also knowing the experiences other people have had using them.

A lot of people will say that GHD's are the best because that is the prefered model for hairdressers as they were the first on the market. If either brands are out of your price range you need to be looking at FULLY CERAMIC straighteners as these are the best type and are more kinder to your hair as they won't damage your hair too much. There is also CERAMIC COATED straighteners but the ceramic wears off after some time and the straighteners are then useless.

I have found a link regarding FHI straighteners, this is the cheapest price I can find on the internet as they normally retail for £70.00. Trust me, they are good and will last and have all the qualities of GHD's and more.

Both are the very same it's just the colour that's different.

http://www.snipzuk.co.uk/pfull.php?productid=591
http://www.snipzuk.co.uk/pfull.php?productid=590
Last edited by funlovingirl : 01-11-2007 at 23:43

I'm in the GHD camp too. I tried every pair of straighteners under the sun, and found a couple of pairs that did the job well, but it would take me forever to do. They were never hot enough and the slightest bit of rain or drizzle and my good work would be undone.

Then GHDs became popular about 3 years ago and I've never looked back. I've just had to replace my existing GHDs as they were on their way out. £92 on beautysleuth.com. Expensive but worth it. If I let my hair dry naturally it is ridiculously curly and unmanageable. With GHDs I can blowdry my hair and straighten it in about 15-20 minutes. Then the next morning or whenever, I run them through my hair in less than 5 minutes and it's done.

RE: What products to use on your hair.

I use heat protection spray before I use my GHDs and afterwards, I put a little bit of serum in to deal with the flyaways!

GHD's are the best no contest, I have used other before but they are not as good as GHD IMO...

Alone you can get them from the below site...
http://www.ghdhair.com/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SHE-BLACK-STRA...QQcmdZViewItem


These are brilliant as good as ghdS i made an offer and got them for 35.00 plus P/P

I got mines from www.jasonshankey.co.uk really good value and next day delivery.

*********** edit, I've just checked and they only do the latest version. I think mine were mk3 but mk4 is out now.

I only paid around £70 for the mens one about 12 months ago........the new version is £103

Babyliss ones are absolutely no use on my hair, or my mum's hair. We both have crazy, enormous, curly, thick hair that when left naturally is about a foot out from our heads and the Babyliss straighteners leave it looking slightly triangular (that's the only way I can describe it) and as the day goes on our hair becomes big again.

With GHDs it's easy to straighten our hair so it even looks as though it's naturally straight. With the Babyliss it just looks straightened, and a sort of daft shape. Plus, GHD straightening lasts all day, unless it rains, and leaves your hair lovely and soft and shiny.

If you've got easy to control hair and not all that much money for straighteners, go for the Babyliss ones, but if not, GHDs definitely.

Ooh, I'm having second thoughts about the Babyliss 230 now. I was leaning heavily towards them until I read your post, but your hair sounds a lot like mine so I guess I'd better avoid them in case I get the triangular problem! (Did you see the episode of Friends when they went to Barbados and Monica's hair got affected by the humidity? That's what happens to mine if I get caught in the rain and can't dry it! ...I'm confused now though, as I've heard a lot of stories (some on this forum) about GHD's conking out after a year or so and the manufacters refusing to fix them....aaargh! It's a minefield isn't it?! Maybe I'll check out the FHIs; they sound good.

I'm in the FHI camp too - half the price of GHDs and every bit as good. My sister in law has GHDs and I've used them from time to time, and whilst they are good, she has bought three pairs of GHDs in the time I have bought one pair of FHIs (still going strong now after nearly three years, and I straighten my hair at least 4 times a week). FHIs all the way for me, they cannot be beaten on price and performance.

rubbish - i have had mine since just after they came out. i know some people have had problems with them but i use mine 3-4 times a week and have done since i bought then without any problems whatsoever.

I got GHD minis for my birthday as I have very short but frizzy curly hair.

As I'd just had my hair cut it is a bit too short at the moment!

Is it best to use a serum on the hair before using the straighteners?

I use Toni & Guy Iron It Heat Defense spray from Boots.
Also Loreal Hot Straight cream but I dont trust it as much.

Thanks.

I'm sorry but i'm pretty certain that they will do.

Using heat of any sort will damage the hair to an extent - even sunlight can damage the hair so using a heated appliance on the hair is bound to, no matter how good they may seem.

OP, I would definitely advise GHD's.

My friend is mixed race and has curly afro type hair, even she manages to get her hair dead straight with them.

She hasn't used other ones to compare but if you're not wanting to get the 'wrong' ones again these are your best option.

I use my GHD's practically every day and had them for 2 years before they finally conked out. They do have a history of just not working after a while but it depends how often you're going to use them. I think they are definitely worth it though. My friend used to use cheap straighteners and then she tried my GHD's and is borrowing them every week now (annoyingly!!).

I would use a heat protection spray first as any direct heat on the hair will cause damage eventually. Then I follow with a serum or shine spray

They've got some ceramic Per Una straightners in boots for 20 quid x
Last edited by x-pepsical-x : 12-11-2007 at 12:01

I have very fine coloured hair and I use GHDs every day with no damage to my hair. I have tried loads of other straighteners and none come close to GHD.

Other than shampoo and conditoner the only thing that I use is Aussie 3 min miracle every couple of washes and my hair is in good condition.

I can't really give much on an opinion here, I've only ever had GHDs, the original straighteners and the mini ones for curling, and they are both absolutely fantastic. My hair is mid length, kind of straight but very thick and with a bit of a kink if left to it's own devices... but with my GHDs I can be either dead straight or nice and tousled in about ten minutes.

I would definitely recommend GHD's, I don't think they can be faulted. They are expensive, but they last for ages. I've had mine for 4 years and they're still going strong. No other electrical appliance I've had for my hair has lasted for that amount of time. You can even have them replaced if they break.

Just out of curiosity, can you get ''thick'' FHI straigteners or do they only do the ''thin'' ones? Obviously some people's hair is harder to straighten than others and they would need a thicker plate.

Do you mean these ones?

http://www.salonlines.co.uk/hair-str...hi-wide-plate/

Hi, i've had the Hairart straighteners for 3 years and have had no problems at all

http://www.salonlines.co.uk/hair-str...ic-chic-h1500/

I've also used GHD's and would say that the Hairart ones are just as good and Cosmopolitan Magazine rated them 10/10 as well.

Lisa x
Last edited by Mrs.W : 17-11-2007 at 23:01

i've got these remingtons recently, very happy with them on my past shoulder length, thick slightly wavy hair. bargain price too!

just ordered a pair for my mates chrimbo pressie aswell.

I've had my Babyliss Pro elegance straighteners for 2 weeks now and they are fab.
Mine cost £49.99 from argos.
I have very long thick wavy hair and my hair looks lovely straight.