How to use ghd straighteners

Before you start

Hair should be fully dry. Straightening damp hair can make it sizzle and steam, and ghd's plate stylers are designed for dry hair. If you want to go from wet, use a wet to dry styler instead; see the best wet to dry straighteners. Brush out any knots so the plates glide rather than snag.

Apply a heat protection spray or cream as the product directs and let it dry. Have a few sectioning clips, a fine tooth comb and a heat resistant mat ready. Plug in, switch on and wait for the styler to signal that it is ready. On most ghd models this is a light or a short beep; the manual confirms how yours indicates readiness.

• Clean, completely dry, detangled hair
• Heat protection product
• Sectioning clips and a fine tooth comb
• A heat mat or the plate guard

Step by step: straightening with a ghd

The single slow pass is the key. ghd designs its stylers to hold 185 °C (365 °F) so that one pass is enough on most hair. Going over the same section again and again is rarely needed and adds more heat than necessary. If a section stays wavy, it is usually too thick: take a smaller section rather than pressing harder.

1. 1

   Divide your hair into a lower and an upper layer and clip the top out of the way. Start at the nape.

2. 2

   Take a section about 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide and no deeper than about 1 cm, so the plates can heat it through in one pass.

3. 3

   Comb the section smooth, then close the plates close to the root, keeping them clear of the scalp.

4. 4

   Glide down slowly and steadily to the ends in one pass. Keep light tension by holding the ends or running a comb just ahead of the plates.

5. 5

   Move to the next section. Release the next layer when the lower one is done and repeat up to the crown and front.

6. 6

   For a smooth bevel at the ends, turn your wrist slightly under or out as you reach the tips.

7. 7

   Let your hair cool fully, then run a brush or your fingers through and finish with a light serum if you like.

Section size and speed by hair type

Fine hair heats through quickly, so you can use slightly larger sections and a smoother, faster glide. Thick or coarse hair needs smaller, thinner sections and a slower glide. Very curly hair benefits from smaller sections still and a comb chase, where you run a comb just ahead of the plates. If you have very thick or long hair, a wide plate ghd Max or Chronos Max can cover more hair per pass; see the best straighteners for thick hair.

Sleep mode, cord and storage

ghd stylers have an automatic sleep mode that switches them off after a set time without use. ghd lists 30 minutes on many corded models and 10 minutes on the Chronos, while the cordless Unplugged sleeps after 3 minutes. Sleep mode is a backup, not a replacement for switching off. Turn the styler off and unplug when you finish.

Let the plates cool on a heat mat or with the plate guard on before storing. Do not wrap the cord tightly around the styler, as that can strain the swivel joint over time. If you have a problem with lights or beeps, our guide to ghd red light and beeping explains common signals.

Compare the ghd range →

Common mistakes to avoid

If you also want to curl or wave with your ghd, the rounded barrels on the Gold, Platinum+ and Chronos are designed for it. Our guide to curling with straighteners explains the twist and glide.

• Straightening damp hair: dry it fully first.
• Sections that are too thick: take thinner sections rather than more passes.
• Clamping and stopping mid section: keep the glide moving to avoid kinks.
• Starting too close to the scalp: leave a small gap to protect skin.
• Brushing while still warm: let hair cool so the style sets.

Heat safety

ghd plates reach 185 °C (365 °F) within seconds and can burn skin. Keep them away from your forehead, ears and neck, never put a hot styler down on fabric, and keep it out of reach of children while cooling. Do not use it near water.

Note:Stop using any styler with a damaged cord or cracked casing and contact ghd or an authorised repairer. Follow the safety section of your manual.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature are ghd straighteners? Current ghd plate stylers work at a fixed 185 °C (365 °F), which ghd calls the optimum styling temperature.

Can you use ghd straighteners on wet hair? No, plate stylers are for dry hair. ghd's Duet Style is the ghd tool designed for wet to dry styling.

How long do ghd straighteners take to heat up? It varies by model. ghd lists around 30 seconds for many plate stylers; the manual for yours gives the exact time.

How many times should I go over each section? Aim for one slow pass. If a section stays wavy, take a smaller section rather than repeating passes.