GHD IV Styler hair straighteners May 2010

GHD IV hair straighteners review

GHD’s new IV Styler hair straighteners promise complete versatility for your look – poker-straight hair, flicks and waves or even easy curling. When we gave a pair to a tester and a professional hairdresser to try out, they found that GHDs lived up to the hype - and were impressed with their design and the styles they could create.

For those who have used older versions of GHD ceramic hair straighteners, the new IV styler’s ceramic plates might seem a bit too slim at first, but our tester quickly got used to their size. Straightening the hair was very quick and didn’t require repeated presses with the irons on the same areas – even on naturally curly hair.

Flicks and waves were no problem either, and the rounded barrel is well-designed to ensure hair can easily be given body and bounce with soft curls. The slimmer build of the GHD IV Styler (£119) means the straighteners are comfortable to hold and can be gripped without discomfort when creating curls - you can manoeuvre around your head the little effort.

Styling with GHDs

A convenient noise indicator and flashing light lets you know when the GHD IV Styler hair straighteners are hot enough to use – and quickly. Our tester was able to start straightening in 25 seconds. There isn’t an option to change the temperature, so you get maximum heat (230°C) in this short space of time.

The GHD straighteners' rounded barrel means they are not stable enough to rest on their base without rolling on to their side. As standard GHD IV black straighteners do not come with a protective heat mat, you'll either need to buy one separately or make sure you always rest the straighteners on a hardy, non-flammable surface to cool down. 

Cooling doesn't take too long though – we found they were cool to the touch in less than 20 minutes. These GHD straighteners also have the ‘peace of mind’ factor with an auto-shut off facility if the hair straighteners are idle for 30 minutes.

A further feature common to rival ceramic hair straighteners by manufacturers like Remington or Babyliss, but missing from this latest GHD model is the ability to lock the hair straighteners shut, which is useful for tidy storage.

For beginners, GHD’s website - www.ghdhair.com - has lots of tutorials and videos with styling tips and lessons on how to use the GHD IV Styler for straightening and curling, but there is no instruction booklet with these helpful tips with the product.

Expert verdict on GHD IV Styler straighteners

Our tester gave the GHD IV Styler straighteners to a hairdresser to get a professional's view. She noted the speed in which they heated up and was particularly impressed that she couldn’t feel the heat coming off the hair straighteners as they were being used – making them more comfortable to use for longer. She also thought the IV Styler straighteners have a ‘lovely smooth grip,’ making them easy to hold.

Hair was ‘poker straight’ and we were told that GHD’s latest IV Styler straighteners were also good for curling – a test delivered ‘nice soft waves’. 

And while more expensive than other models, she commented that with the GHD IV Styler, ‘you get what you pay for’.

The standard GHD IV Styler comes in black, priced £119. Limited edition coloured gloss GHDs are also available in purple indulgence, green envy, blue serenity and red lust, priced £129. These Colour Collection GHDs also come with a black case and heat resistant pouch.

Pros: Versatile hair straighteners for straight, wavy or curly hair, auto-shut off after 30 minutes.

Cons: Don't rest easily on a flat surface, no lock to close the straighteners.

Looking for more hair straightener reviews? We've also reviewed: 

• Nicky Clarke NSS051 Frizz Control Pro Ceramic straightener
• Remington Pearl ceramic hair straighteners
• Rowenta Supremium hair straighteners
• V05 Professional Ceramic Straightener, 
• Remington Wet2Straight Slim hair straighteners

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