Product review
ghd Original Hair Straightener & Styler (Upgraded) — Our Honest Review
Darling, my hair is a proper rebel – think exploded mattress after five minutes on the Northern line in the drizzle. As a London woman who loathes diet culture and all the performative fragility it peddles, I still love a tool that lets me choose my look for the sheer pleasure of it. I tested the ghd Original Hair Straightener & Styler (Upgraded) on my stubborn waves and it delivered without demanding I shrink myself.
At £149 from Pure Beauty this cult classic sits at #2 in hair straighteners with a solid 4.6 stars from 4200 reviews. Upgraded tech, improved design, same trusted performance – I put it through my real-life routine of tube rides, pub philosophy and sudden rain. No fluff, just honest feedback from someone who's burnt her ear with cheaper kit one too many times.
Texture and first impressions
Picked it up and straight away the upgraded design felt like it meant business – solid, balanced, not some delicate flower that'd snap if you looked at it wrong. First glide through my damp mop and the texture shift was ridiculous: sleek without that dry, straw-like aftermath cheaper straighteners leave. My waves went smooth and touchable, like they'd actually been cared for rather than tortured.
No tugging, no singed ends, just pure satisfaction. You laugh at all the times you've fought with high-street rubbish while this glides like it respects your hair. We deserve that, love – tools that work with our real texture instead of pretending we're all silk by default.
Wear and day-to-day use
Took it out into proper London life: steamy tube, sideways rain on the way to the shops, then a few pints in the local. The sleekness lasted a solid eight hours before the weather won – better than most straighteners I've hurled in the bin. No sad frizz meltdown by mid-afternoon, just enough polish to feel put-together on my own terms.
Quick enough for rushed mornings yet tough enough to survive my clumsy styling attempts. Wore it to meetings and felt the confidence kick without buying into the idea we must all be flawless. In British humidity it holds its own far longer than my old ones ever did.
Value and who it suits
£149 isn't loose change but those 4.6 stars from 4200 reviews tell you it's built to last, not landfill fodder. Value lands when it boosts your real confidence instead of feeding the beauty-standard machine. This one does the job without the guilt trip, making it worth it for days you fancy a sleek power move.
Suits the busy feminist with wavy or curly hair who wants options – sleek for a night out or boardroom without ditching your natural texture the rest of the week. Skip it if you're strictly team natural and anti-heat; otherwise it's a reliable mate for real routines in unpredictable UK weather.
Verdict
4.5 / 5. The ghd Original Hair Straightener & Styler (Upgraded) is a cracking bit of kit that earns its cult status. It gives you sleek on demand without the self-loathing or fragile princess nonsense, letting you own your look for pleasure not perfection. See the full details at ghd Original Hair Straightener & Styler (Upgraded) - for Sleek.
Would I recommend it? In a heartbeat, darling. Nothing's flawless but this comes damn close for women who want real results and a proper laugh while getting ready.
