GHDs - to buy or not to buy - decision to be made

Citygirl1

Hi again, sorry to go on about this again but I have some birthday money to spend from my other half and want to spend it before it gets eaten up on bills and general stuff.

I am really tempted to get some GHDs as I can't make my hair behave no matter what, but it is fine and wispy. I keep hearing different reports on how GHDs can damage your hair but other reports where they don't.

Just earlier I called in a hair salon in town who sells them, a reputable salon 'Headlines', and was advised that as long as I use a good heat protection spray I will be fine with them. I was going to get them there and then but thought I'd better sleep on it a bit as it is a lot of money if they do damage my hair and I can't return them.

Can anyone here advise, put my mind at rest that it will be worth spending my birthday money on and making the investment. I so want sleek hair but don't want to damage it either.

gunsandbanjos

I have very thick, very curly hair and went through a phase of straightening it. Honestly GHDs are not the be all and end all! I had Babyliss pro 230s, they cost me £17 in the sale and they were way better than my GHDs.

I think a few years ago GHDs were market leaders but i think most brands have pretty much caught up.

In terms of heat protection, it is a must, Kerastase range is great. It is pricey but lasts.

p-pincher

I love my GHD's. Ive previously have tried alot of other straighteners but they havent came close to the ghd's. They make my naturally curly hair straight AND shiny.

Saying that though from reading other posts on here the others seen to be catching up but to be honest if mine broke tomorrow I would only buy ghd's. Have you tried any of the reputable online hair shops to get them a bit cheaper, Is there anyone you can borrow some different straighteners off so you can try a few pairs?

VfM4meplse

Don't bother!

Citygirl1 wrote: »

I am really tempted to get some GHDs as I can't make my hair behave no matter what, but it is fine and wispy. I keep hearing different reports on how GHDs can damage your hair but other reports where they don't.

Any repeated application of direct heat to your hair shaft will knacker your hair out, and GHDs are no different. The problem is that straightening your hair is addictive, you start off with a perfect result and will want to emulate the style repeatedly. Having fine and wispy hair in the first place is also a disadvantage.

Citygirl1 wrote: »

Just earlier I called in a hair salon in town who sells them, a reputable salon 'Headlines', and was advised that as long as I use a good heat protection spray I will be fine with them. I was going to get them there and then but thought I'd better sleep on it a bit as it is a lot of money if they do damage my hair and I can't return them.

Lol, like they are the experts! Although a spray may help a bit, keratin damage is irreversible, and you'll end up having your hair chopped off!

You may be better with a Brazilian blow-dry, but again beware, if you have wavy hair it will look very odd as it grows out!

Citygirl1

Thanks for your replies. If I don't go with GHDs, how do I get my hair to stay sleek?

TimBear

I have super thick, coarse, frizzy, curly hair naturally (before my Brazilian treatment which has TRANSFORMED my hair!), and when my GHDs broke I replaced them with FHIs which are cheaper and I would honestly say better than my GHDs were. They are still a little pricy (I paid around £80) but brilliant.

fluffpot

I use GHD's and a heat protector. I used to wash and blow dry my hair every day in an attempt to keep it from going frizzy, but now I just wash, leave to dry naturally and straighten twice a week. So I reckon that my hair is getting less heat damage than it used to

A friend of mine who's a professional hairdresser, told me to chuck away my dryer and just use the straighteners!

xbrenx

fluffpot wrote: »

I use GHD's and a heat protector. I used to wash and blow dry my hair every day in an attempt to keep it from going frizzy, but now I just wash, leave to dry naturally and straighten twice a week. So I reckon that my hair is getting less heat damage than it used to

A friend of mine who's a professional hairdresser, told me to chuck away my dryer and just use the straighteners!

This is what I do - wash every other day anyway, and it doesn't need straightening the days in between.

To the OP - GHD's seem to marketed very well, rather like ipods, so that people believe they are the best money can buy. This is a myth. I use Lee Stafford straighteners and his heat spray and get extremely good results.

I've been told that straighteners with adjustable heat settings are better and to buy the best heat spray you can afford because it will make a difference.

Ziggazee

GHD's are great but overuse is seriously bad for your hair. It's so easy to slip into the habit of using them everyday. Like you I have fine wispy hair and daily use of straighteners totally ruined it. A month or so ago I started using Argan Oil (put it on wet hair and then dry it using a paddle brush) and I don't actually need to use my straighteners at all, hair feels great. I still use them occasionally, i.e. if I have a night out or something.

ellies_angel

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

I have very thick, very curly hair and went through a phase of straightening it. Honestly GHDs are not the be all and end all! I had Babyliss pro 230s, they cost me £17 in the sale and they were way better than my GHDs.

I think a few years ago GHDs were market leaders but i think most brands have pretty much caught up.

In terms of heat protection, it is a must, Kerastase range is great. It is pricey but lasts.

I have extremely thick hair and a lot of it. I have GHD's and I have the Babyliss and have to say the best result is with the babyliss without a doubt

Johnycuban

Well my OH runs a high end salon and spa and they used to use GHD's but due to poor quality and hi fail rate on the salon used products they now use cloud nines, they appear to be more robust for constant use in a salon Envirofacts but I think the fact that they are heat adjustable would be a good thing for your fine hair.