GHD and CHI are household names when it comes to hair straighteners, but there has to be one clear standout winner between the two. In this article, we are going to help you decide whether GHD or CHI is the best hair straightener for you in 2023.
Is CHI or GHD the best straightener for 2023?
GHD (Good Hair Day) is a hair care brand from the U.K. that has been making professional-grade hair tools for 20 years.
CHI makes salon-quality hair products and tools for over 30 years. Both brands make high-quality straighteners that are widely loved.
Both CHI and GHD have loyal fans. Everyone from professionals to everyday straightener users are comfortable using a particular brand because they’re used to the way that it works or they like certain features.
The truth is that you can’t go wrong with either brand, but there is a clear winner according to beauty gurus and hair stylists.
Although both brands are popular and make high-quality straighteners, most people will agree that GHD straighteners are the best hair straighteners in 2023.
They are made for professionals and boast a unique technology that will heat hair evenly at the perfect temperature without frustrating hot spots and
Why do people love GHD hair straighteners?
If you’ve never heard of GHD straighteners before or are just trying to justify the (admittedly steep) price tag, you might be wondering what is so special about them.
GHD straighteners definitely fall into the luxury professional category when it comes to hair tools, so let’s figure out what sets them apart.
Here are just a few reasons why people are raving about GHD straighteners:
Temperature-regulating technology
GHD understands that it’s sometimes confusing to find the best temperature to straighten your hair on.
If you use a temperature that’s too hot, you risk frying your hair. If it’s not hot enough you won’t have those sleek, smooth locks you’re after.
There are tons of conflicting theories about the right temperature for straighteners but according to GHD’s research, the best temperature is 365 degrees Fahrenheit.
For this reason, all of their irons are set to this temperature to take the guesswork out of the styling equation.
In addition to this foolproof temperature setting, GHD straighteners are equipped with their patented ultra-zone technology that takes things one step further.
This technology checks the temperature 250x per second while in use to make sure that your hair is getting all the heat it needs without overdoing it.
Rounded barrel adds styling versatility
It’s no secret that straighteners can be used for more than just achieving super straight looks. Many people like to use straighteners to create smooth, gentle waves or even bouncy curls.
Although it takes a bit of finesse (and a gentle wrist flick), curling hair with a straightener is a popular beauty trend.
The edges of the GHD flat irons are slightly rounded as opposed to square, which lends itself quite well to using it for curls, waves, and other fun hairstyles.
Heats up quickly
Gone are the days of having to turn on your straightener and let it heat up for 5-10 minutes before using it. With a GHD straightener, you’re only a few seconds away from the hairstyle you are wanting.
GHD straighteners heat up faster than the competitors and reach full temperature in well under a minute.
This is great for beauty mavens who are short on time in the morning but still want sleek, straight hair.
Winner of beauty awards
Don’t take our word for it. GHD straighteners have won Allure Magazine’s Best of Beauty Awards three times and are part of their hall of fame.
This award is considered one of the most prestigious that you can receive in the beauty industry.
Allure experts test numerous products in every category throughout the year before deciding which brands are going to receive their stamp of approval.
A spot on their coveted Best of Beauty list is one of the highest honors you can get in the beauty industry.
Why do people love CHI hair straighteners?
CHI hair straighteners are definitely a household name because you can pick them up almost anywhere.
They are on shelves at big-box retailers like Target or available on Amazon as well.
Because of their popularity, many people associate the brand CHI synonymously with hair straighteners.
Here are a few more reasons why people love CHI hair straighteners so much:
A trusted name in beauty
CHI has been around since 1987. They have been a part of major beauty industry breakthroughs and trends including the first ammonia-free hair color and the creation of hair products using silk proteins.
Because CHI has over 3 decades of beauty experience and has made consistently high-quality products including hot tools, hair products, and more, they are trusted and preferred by stylists and hair enthusiasts.
Professional quality at an affordable cost
When CHI first started introducing hot tools to their product line, their tools were considered to be expensive.
Most straighteners from CHI cost around $100, and while that certainly isn’t the most expensive straightener you can buy, it definitely is a good balance of affordability and quality.
Many hair stylists have committed to using CHI products both personally and in their salons because they are consistent and more affordable than competitors.
This is proof that you don’t have to buy the most expensive hair tools to get great results.
Variable temperature control
Some people like to be able to control and adjust the temperature of their hair tools. CHI offers full adjustability from 0-370 degrees Fahrenheit.
They include a guide with optimal temperature settings for different hair types to make it easier to learn the best temperature for your hair.
Although you can customize the temperature yourself, the CHI iron is evenly heated to make sure that there are no hot spots on the iron that will cause damage to your hair.
Titanium-infused ceramic plates
When you are applying heat directly to the hair, what kind of plates you are using matters. CHI straighteners harness the power of both titanium and ceramic to help you get the smoothest, shiniest hair while minimizing damage.
CHI boasts that their titanium-infused ceramic plates will give you mirror-shiny hair and sleek, straight tresses that last all day.
What do I need to consider when purchasing a straightener?
There are so many different types of straighteners out there that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the options.
Depending on your hair type, how often you plan to straighten your hair, and just your general feature preferences, your perfect straightener might vary from your friend or even the one your hair stylist recommends.
Here are some of the top things to consider when choosing a straightener:
Plate material
You can buy straighteners with a few different types of materials depending on what you like best for your hair and your budget.
Some straighteners are made out of steel, while others are made out of other materials like titanium, tourmaline, or ceramic.
Most professionals and avid straightener users prefer ceramic or a ceramic hybrid because they heat the most evenly and help hair stay shiny and strong.
Temperature settings
Maybe you’re someone who likes a straightener that does the work for you like the GHD straighteners that are all preset to 365 degrees.
According to their research that is the perfect temperature for all hair types, and most people have great results with it.
Conversely, if you feel you know your hair best and you want the ability to customize the temperature, you may like the CHI straighteners or a similar adjustable temperature style instead.
Important features
When buying a straightener, you also want to consider what other features might be important to you.
If you regularly leave your straightener on or plugged in and find yourself turning around halfway out the door, consider one with an auto shut-off feature.
If you travel frequently, you may want to search for a straightener that adjusts voltage. These are things to think about before selecting a straightener for you.
Which straightener is more expensive: CHI or GHD?
GHD straighteners are more expensive than CHI straighteners. A GHD straightener will run you about $250 whereas a Chi is around $100-$125. Prices vary between models and depending on the retailer where you are purchasing from, but as a general rule, GHD is the pricier option.
Does straightening your hair cause damage?
Using a straightener on your hair is a lot of heat applied directly to the hair, so it can cause damage. A big variable as to how much damage it will cause is the preventative measures that you take.
Here are some tips to minimize heat damage when using a straightener:
- Use the lowest temperature that you can for your hair type
- Apply a high-quality heat protectant
- Use a high-quality straightener (GHD and CHI are both great options!)
- Avoid straightening every day
- Get regular trims to prevent and minimize breakage and split ends
How do I use a heat protectant when straightening my hair?
Most heat-protectant sprays or creams are applied to towel-dried hair. They contain important ingredients to protect your hair from all heat styling including drying, straightening, curling, and more.
There are countless heat protectants available on the market at every price point, but it’s important to use one every time you plan on heat styling.
It will help protect your hair’s overall health as well as the longevity of your hair color if you have color-treated hair.
How long will a hair straightener last?
Most hair professionals will recommend that you replace your straightener (and all hot tools like hair dryers, curling irons, crimpers, wave irons, etc.) every 2-3 years.
This is a rule of thumb for the average daily use of these products.
If you use your straightener very infrequently or only for special styles, you might be able to get away with replacing it more like every 5 years.
However, if you are picking up your straightener daily, you definitely want to replace it every couple of years.
One of the benefits of replacing your hair straightener every few years is that you get to take advantage of advances in hair tool technology.
Beauty professionals are always working on new materials and technology, so by upgrading your tools every so often you get to reap the benefits of improved products.
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