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ghd Original Hair Straightener review

No. 1 of 10 in our hair straighteners ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The best hair straightener in 2026 is the ghd Original Hair Straightener. It tops our ranking with 9.2 out of 10.

ghd Original Hair Straightener

9.2/10Best Choice

The ghd Original is a fixed-heat ceramic straightener that runs at 185°C and has a round barrel for curls and waves. It suits anyone who wants a simple, dependable everyday iron and has fine to medium hair.

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Why it's here

  • Fixed styling heat of around 185°C, so there is nothing to set
  • Reaches temperature in about 30 seconds
  • Rounded barrel also makes waves and curls
  • Universal voltage and an auto sleep mode

Keep in mind

  • No temperature choice, which is a drawback for very fine or bleached hair
  • Standard 24mm plates are slow on long, thick hair
  • Costs several times more than a good budget iron

Why the ghd Original Hair Straightener scores 9.2

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 hair straighteners in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are2nd of 10
  • How many rated it2nd of 10
  • How new it is3rd of 10

Why No. 1 beats No. 2

The ghd Original Hair Straightener (9.2) beats the Remington Keratin Protect Intelligent Straightener S8598 (9.0): owners are about as happy with both, and it is the newer design.

About the ghd Original Hair Straightener

The ghd Original has one temperature and no controls to set. The brand gives its optimum styling temperature as 185°C, and the plates reach it in about 30 seconds. It uses single-zone heating across ceramic plates, which the brand and its retailers describe as improved ceramic heaters.

The plates are floating, which the retailers describe as snag-free, and the barrel is round. That shape lets you curl and wave with the iron as well as straighten, and ghd says it will also give poker-straight ends. The swivel cord is 2.7m long, which helps when you reach the back of the head.

It has universal voltage and a UK three-pin plug. An automatic sleep mode switches it off after 30 minutes. The listings we read do not say what comes in the box beyond the styler itself. Cult Beauty lists the power as 68 to 75W and advises using a heat protectant spray, and not wrapping the cord round the iron or hanging it by the cord.

What owners report about the ghd Original Hair Straightener

We could not read owner reviews for this exact model on the pages we opened, so we cannot report a pattern of what owners like or dislike, or how the iron holds up after months of use.

The one independent write-up we read, from Expert Reviews, found it quick to heat, easy to move around the head and good for a sleek finish even on curly or frizzy hair. It did not list any drawbacks.

Who the ghd Original Hair Straightener suits

Pick the ghd Original if you want an iron with nothing to set, from a brand that stylists use, and your hair is fine to medium or you style it at around 185°C anyway. The round barrel makes it a reasonable one-tool choice if you also like loose waves. Universal voltage helps if you travel, though you will need a plug adapter.

Look elsewhere if you need to change the heat. Very fine, bleached or damaged hair can want a lower setting, and Cloud Nine The Original Iron or the Diva Pro Styling Intelligent Digital Styler PRO211 Onyx offer a range. If your hair is long, thick or curly, ghd Chronos Max has wider plates. If budget matters most, Remington Shine Therapy S8500 costs far less and has nine settings.

Questions about the ghd Original Hair Straightener

What temperature is the ghd Original Hair Straightener?

185°C. ghd gives this as its optimum styling temperature, and it is fixed, so there is no way to raise or lower it.

Does the ghd Original Hair Straightener switch itself off?

Yes. It has an automatic sleep mode that switches it off after 30 minutes.

Can I use the ghd Original Hair Straightener abroad?

Yes, it has universal voltage. It comes with a UK three-pin plug, so you will need a travel adapter for other sockets.

How long is the warranty on the ghd Original Hair Straightener?

Expert Reviews lists a 2-year warranty. Check ghd's own terms for any conditions, such as registering the product.

Can the ghd Original Hair Straightener curl hair?

Yes. The round barrel is designed for curls and waves as well as straightening.

Other hair straightener picks

The other badge winners in our hair straighteners ranking.

All 10 hair straighteners, compared

  1. 1 ghd Original Hair StraightenerThis reviewBest Choice 9.2 Check Price
  2. 2 Remington Keratin Protect Intelligent Straightener S8598Value for Money 9.0 Check Price
  3. 3 Diva Pro Styling Intelligent Digital Styler PRO211 Onyx 8.9 Check Price
  4. 4 Cloud Nine The Touch Iron 8.8 Check Price
  5. 5 Remington Shine Therapy S8500Best Budget 8.7 Check Price
  6. 6 Remington PROluxe S9100 8.7 Check Price
  7. 7 ghd Platinum+ 8.5 Check Price
  8. 8 BaByliss Midnight Luxe 235 8.4 Check Price
  9. 9 ghd Chronos Max 8.3 Check Price
  10. 10 Cloud Nine The Original Iron 8.3 Check Price
See the full hair straighteners ranking

The ghd Original Hair Straightener on Amazon

ghd Original Hair Straightener

The ghd Original is a fixed-heat ceramic straightener that runs at 185°C and has a round barrel for curls and waves. 9.2 out of 10.

Check Price on Amazon

How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover hair straighteners for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 25 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from