Anyone use one of those brushes that are hairdryers as well.  I think they're called blowdry stylers, a cross between a hot brush and a hairdryer.  Are they easy to use?.  I was thinking it might save a bit of time in the morning! 

Any reccomendations on which ones are better.   Thanks

Hi clio1, I have used one of these brush/dryers for a few years now and I think they are great. The first one I had eventually packed up but the one I have now is by Revlon and it is excellent.  I have never been able to coordinate a separate brush and dryer but find these really easy and time saving, I let my hair dry naturally till it's almost dry then spend 5 mins finishing off with the styler.

Thanks for that,  I've got some vouchers for Boots, and was looking at the styling brushes.  I didn't want to waste the vouchers if they didin't work very well.  I'm rubbish at blowdrying so it might be a lot easier, like you say it's difficult to use a brush and a dryer at the same time.  Do you curl or straighten with yours?

I could not live without my GHD straighteners... They are just amazing. Perfect poker straight, perfect curled under bob and best of all, perfect bouncy curls. No need to blow dry if you have time to let your hair 'drip dry' - conversely if you are short of time, rough blow dry and then style with the straighteners... so much easier than fiddling about with a blowdryer/brush etc etc. I have never found another brand of straightener that compares...

Do straighteners curl as well?
Karen

Now I'm confused Stormy84 (doesn't take much) - I thought straighteners could only straighten hair?! But you have straighteners which also curl? Think I might have to have another look at what is available because I have stuck to the same thing for so long! I use my drying brush to add volume and turn the ends under, it would also curl but not make hair totally straight.

If you know how, there's a certain technique needed to get curls with GHD's! I myself have never mastered it!

Yes!! You can easily curl with straightners.. it just takes practice. Most hairdressers I know now use GHD's to curl instead of rollers as it is so much faster with excellent results. It would probably be a bit redundant for me to describe how to do it on here, but if you have straighteners that are hot enough you can get great curls. If you need something to curl hair under they are also fab... just run them down the hair as usual then roll the hair under towards the ends... works a treat. If you ever get ur hair done at a salon, ask the hairdresser to show you how to do it!

PS: My straighteners aren't anything out of the ordinary... they look as though you would never get curls, but I promise it really works. I have really long hair now and it takes me about an hour to get super bouncy curls which last for about 4+ hours (a night out). It has taken me a while to perfect my technique, but it is so worth it!

> I could not live without my GHD straighteners... They are just amazing
> I have never found another brand of straightener that compares...

My hairdresser was telling me yesterday that her BF is buying her the special edition purple GHD straighteners that they have in the salon.  I'm fairly sure she told me £160 ish - although I may have blacked out with shock!! - she then said that as they come with a free hairdryer worth £55, they were a bargain:)

They are pricey, but £160 is a bit excessive. If I had to choose betweem living without and £160 it would be the latter... they are truly life changing. (How sad)

>If you know how, there's a certain technique needed to get curls with GHD's! I myself have never mastered it!

lol me neither Gembo !

Well you learn something new every day! Will have to ask when I am next at the hairdresser, my hair is naturally poker straight so would never have thought of straighteners. Are GHD's a particular brand?

Yep, stands for Good Hair Day apparently. Don't be tempted by a cheaper pair, they are rubbish and don't work anywhere near as well.

Couldn't agree more - prior to GHD's I had 3 different sets of straightners & after time they were rubiish & used to kill the ends of my hair.  I've had my GHS's about 3 years now & they're still going strong & I tend to use them at least once a day!  I think lookfantastic.com do them the cheapest from memory, sometimes if you trade in your old pair they give you £20 off a new set in some salons!

Can I just say as a hairstylist ....GHD's are the only straightners imo.....lol,nothing else comes close.

Now then onto the matter of curls done with straightners....

1.To get curls using them take a small section of hair  and spray with Protector spray(Very Very Important if you dont want to burn your hair) as GHD's are very hot.

2. Next close straightners onto hair near roots and, keeping the same tension on the hair if you can, imediately begin to roll them round and under (as if you were putting in a roller) as you pull them down the hair length at the same time. This should give you a  soft spiral type ringlet curl.Keep the movement going as you roll and pull the straightners down the hair length or you will end up with crease lines in your hair...not a very fetching look lol.

3.Fix each individual curl with a touch of serum and a  spritz of hairspray to keep the curl crisp.

4. Never put your fingers through the curls once done as  they will frizz up and staighten out quicker.

It takes a bit of practice and a fair bit of time  to get it right and complete a full head of curls,dont worry if the curl appears tighter at first  than you want it,it will drop as the hair cools down.
Also remeber the smaller the hair section and the quicker you roll and pull the straighters ,the better the curl result.

hope this helps.

Happy Practicing :)

Thanks for that philly - I shall have a practise this weekend, I have not yet mastered the art of curling with GHD's either!

Would just like to echo what everyone else has said - I'd never have any other brand of straightners, its GHD's all the way for me. I had the original ones but recently bought the large plate ones (there's a proper name for them but it escapes me) and they are BRILLIANT - I got mine for £109 I think from a shop in Essex when I was visiting friends.

There are GHD's at £97 on Amazon at the moment - I'm getting a pair as my Christmas pressie (cant wait!). I've heard that they are fantastic, they'll be totally worth the money- I've spent a lot of money on cheap straighteners in the last few years - they all broke down :(. Re the hairstylers I had a Babyliss one which worked 'okay' but found I still needed to use a straightener on top.

:)

Oh thanks for that philly.
My daughter wants curls for Christmas, she has inherited my fine, poker straight hair that barely holds  a wave, so will be delighted if I get her these and with your tips we should be away.....
Great thread clio...

Karen :)

I'd love naturally fine, poker straight hair. Mine is naturally thick and wavy!

I have never been happy about it all though I have been assured by many it's what they want...............
I only ever wanted my own curls or at least a bit of wave and body.
As the years ahve gone by and the ngrey is creeping through it has managed to acquire more body it must be grudgingly said. 

Karen :)

I believe the GHD Mark IV model come with a 'training' DVD which shows you how to do different styles with GHDs, including curls.

I'd agree that GHDs are the best on the market but when mine broke down I was panic stricken.  Luckily, I was able to get them fixed for less than £20 by a guy who runs a repair service on ebay.  I bought some for £7.99 from Tesco to tide me over while my GHDs were being repaired and they are brilliant...not as good as GHDs, of course, but much, much better than any of the other (more expensive) straightners I've owned in the past!

The second best pair of hair straightners that I used were about £20 from Wilkinsons - they were almost as good as GHD's!!

I have found that the GHD styling products are very good too, and last for ages :-)

Also a point of interest for anyone who has GHD's in need of repair.......

If your GHD's are less than 12 mnths old and they break,forwhatever reason.....send them back to GHD they repair or replace them if they cant be fixed free of charge

Girls, girls, girls, PLEASE don't forget to use a heat protecting spray or serum.

With all the curling / straightening / bending and flicking - I foresee some split ends on the way.

L'oreal do a Hot Styling creme and spray which protect the hair and is activated by heat.

> brushes that are hairdryers as well

Ok if used only occassionally but I have to use a lot of products to prevent static. I have very fine naturally straight hair. As odd as it may sound using straighteners at the roots actually gives it lift and makes it look much thicker, so I have to say I love my GHD's

Have a search about as the salon I go to was recently doing a £20 trade in with GHD's. Take along ANY old straighteners in any condition and they'd give £20 off GHD's. The poster was a proper GHD one, not just one by the salon so maybe GHD are still running this promotion.

Think that promotion ended just before they brought out the limited edition pink stylers for Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) - it was definately a promotion run by ghd.

I've been a GHD gal for many years now and have had quite a few in that time.  They're great, couldn't live without them.  But I fancy these http://www.babyliss.co.uk/straighteners_2034u.html anyone have any thoughts on them or used them?

Well we have been pro GHD in this household ( My daughter) and family ( my sister and her daughter) for years but my daughters GHDs packed up a couple of weeks ago and I grabbed a pair of Babyliss 220s for her when I was in the supermarket they were very inexpensive and she loves them.    So no more ( well for now) GHDs.   I don't use straighteners personally but my daughter and sister have always been very pro GHDs.