ghd Gold vs Platinum+ hair straighteners | Head to head!

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ghd Gold vs Platinum+ straighteners. What’s the difference between these hot hair magic makers? And which one is the right one for you?

ghds are the queens, the classics, the mothers of all hair straighteners and the hot hair tool that all hair straighteners want to be.

Once upon a time, ghd Original Stylers were all we ever needed. Some of us still have our very first pair! But now there are newer, sexier, sleeker models in the ghd family that offer even more.

So when it comes to ghd gold or platinum hair straighteners, which one do you really need? We’re here to tell you what’s the difference between ghd gold and platinum so you can decide which one will take pride of place on your dressing table.

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Do hair straighteners damage coloured hair?

Sadly, yes.

Coloured hair is precious, so you need to use straighteners that are going to give you the smooth sleek tresses your heart desires, but doesn’t wreck and fade your colour.

Check out this film from uber stylist and coloured hair expert, Guy Tang who shows us just how bad for colour hair straighteners can be. It’s a shocker.

In How to use straighteners with coloured hair we told you all you need to know about how best to protect your coloured hair while using straighteners.

Ceramic plates are the kindest when it comes to straightening coloured hair. Like any heating appliance, straighteners age with wear and tear and their plates lose their ability to heat up so efficiently.

So if you’ve had your hair straighteners for a while and your hair is feeling frayed and not so smooth after using them, it’s time to purchase some new ones. The question is which are best for you – ghd vs platinum hair straighteners?

Can I curl my hair with straighteners?

The beauty of hair straighteners is that they’re not just for giving you ultra-slick, poker-straight hair. With the flick of a wrist, you can entice soft, beach-ready waves or mega tight curls. It’s all in the technique.

The hottest hair style trend at the moment is for beach waves and super soft curls. This is also totally achievable with straighteners. It’s a gorgeously relaxed look we love and are big fans of at Coloured Hair Care. We’re all over it on Pinterest.

Which are the best straighteners for coloured hair?

Ghd are to straighteners what Dyson is to vacuum cleaners (and these days hair dryers, see our Dyson Supersonic, Spotlight Review).

In our Best hair straighteners reviews, we picked the top straighteners that are the kindest to coloured hair – whether you’re straightening, curling or waving.

Now we put two of the most popular hair straighteners Head to Head to find out which one you should get to keep your straight locks sleek and shiny, your beach waves rocking and your colour tip top! Stand by for ghd gold vs platinum straighteners.

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TOP PICK!

ghd Gold Styler Professional Ceramic Hair Straighteners.

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Best for: Every day use that’s kind to colour.

These are the straighteners that all other straighteners want to be. A high quality, lower heat appliance that looks after our coloured manes while giving us the most fabulous, swishy hair results.

It beats its newer Platinum+ sister by a hair for being more versatile and easier to use when it comes to styling your hair in any way that’s not straight. Given that the ghd Golds are typically cheaper vs Platinum+ and it now comes in a gorgeous new pink colour, for us, it’s ghd Gold Styler all the way.


ghd Gold Styler Professional Ceramic Hair Straighteners.

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The Spec:

  • Variable temperature control: No
  • Cordless: No
  • Cable length: 2.7m swivel cord
  • Dimensions: H9 x W12 x D33 cm
  • Weight: 1.1kg
  • Accessories included:Protective plate guard

They say:

  • The ghd Gold professional styler transforms your beauty regime and leaves you with glamorous, healthy-looking hair.
  • It has dual-zone technology, an advanced heat sensor on each plate to maintain the ideal styling temperature of 185ºC constantly.
  • They have a speedy heat-up time of 25 seconds and an automatic sleep mode that turns them off after 30 minutes of non-use.

Reviewers say:

Average 4.7 out of 5 stars.

“I’ve used GHD’s for as long as I can remember and I wouldn’t use any other brand as they tame my frizzy / curly hair. I literally could not live without them. My current pair are probably over 10 years old!”

“I had the older version of these straighteners for +10 years before they lost their ability to heat one of the plates. I tried these ones and the platinum version but these were the better ones for my fine hair type.”

“I’ve only had these for a week but love them. They just glide through my mane! I have a neck length bob but my hair is VERY thick, coarse and wild naturally. As usual, GHD does the job.”

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We say:  

The design is top notch and it’s not as heavy as some other straighteners so you can avoid the arm ache that comes with straightening your hair. The cord is a good length to be able to move freely, that’s another reason why these are the hairdressers’ favourites that you see in salons throughout the land. 

Heads above the rest.

The important thing about these that make them perfect for coloured hair is the temperature. Just like the Platinum+ Stylers, there’s no temperature control which means you can’t accidentally turn it up too high and scorch your colour.

It’s deliberately set at 185 degrees which ghd sets as the optimum temperature to not scald your hair shafts and burn out your colour.

This means you’re free to style your hair frazzle free. And that’s where the Gold Stylers have really the edge. The plates are more rounded than its newer sister the Platinum+, make it easier to make waves and curls in your hair without tugging or snagging.

Given that the ghd Golds are typically cheaper vs Platinum+ and it now comes in moon silver and a gorgeous new iridescent white, for us, it’s ghd Gold Styler all the way.

Check our in-depth review of these beauts in ghd Gold Styler review.

ghd gold Styler Iridescent White Professional Hair Straighteners.

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ghd Platinum+ Styler White Professional Smart Hair Straighteners

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The spec:

  • Variable temperature control: No
  • Cordless: No
  • Cable length: 2.7m
  • Dimensions: H9 x W12 x D32cm
  • Weight: 0.75kg
  • Accessories Included: None!

They say:

  • Ultra-zone predictive technology.
  • These straighteners are designed to constantly adapt to ensure the optimum styling temperature at all times. 
  • Precision-milled plates.
  • There’s an ultra-gloss coating to create shinier hair, reduce breakage.
  • 2 x less colour fade versus a styler working at 230°C.
  • 20 sec heat up time.

Reviewers say:

Average 4.7 out of 5 stars.

“As soon as I opened it I could feel it is a product of the highest quality. It doesn’t pull, break or give my hair any burnt smells. I used to have steam coming out with my old ones. My hair feels and looks so much healthier.”

“I got these when my old ghds packed up after 12 years or more and I was surprised how much straighteners have improved! It’s only been a couple of weeks but my hair is so much smoother and silkier. I wish I’d upgraded a long time ago.”

“These glide through my hair and make it feel and look much better than ever. I’ve already bought another pair for my daughter. She uses straighteners every day and I think you need to invest in the best of the best if you’re using straighteners daily. GHDs are the best hair straighteners for me without a doubt.”

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We say: 

Another ghd product that made our best hair straighteners for coloured hair list is the Platinum+ smart styler. Isn’t she pretty! 

The first thing that strikes you is the innovative design but these are also an amazing piece of kit. They use predictive technology to anticipate the needs of your hair and adjust the heat accordingly as it styles, monitoring it 250 times per second across two floating plates.

The smarter choice for smoother hair.

They claim the technology offers twice the colour protection, and leaves hair up to 70 per cent stronger than before. It’s more responsive than the ghd Golds and we found it heated up quicker.

The only neg we had was the heating pads make it more difficult to curl your hair, but the beach waves look was easy to manage once we got used to it.

If you mostly use straighteners to….straighten your hair and want something that will protect your colour while it’s at it, these are the ones for you.

These iridescent white versions have stolen our heart. Swoon.

ghd Platinum Plus Styler Iridescent White

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TOP PICK!

ghd Gold Styler Professional Ceramic Hair Straighteners.

q? encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0842R4373&Format= SL250 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=colouredhairc 21&language=en GB
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Best for: Every day use that’s kind to colour.

These are the straighteners that all other straighteners want to be. A high quality, lower heat appliance that looks after our coloured manes while giving us the most fabulous, swishy hair results.

It beats its newer Platinum+ sister by a hair for being more versatile and easier to use when it comes to styling your hair in any way that’s not straight. Given that the ghd Golds are typically cheaper vs Platinum+ and it now comes in a gorgeous new pink colour, for us, it’s ghd Gold Styler all the way.

Check our in-depth review of these beauts in ghd Gold Styler Professional Straighteners | Spotlight review.


This article was written by:

  • Nicola Freeman, Creative Director & Content Lead
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    Creative Director & Content Lead

    With over two decades of passionate hair dyeing experience, I've experimented with nearly every shade imaginable. My journey began long before blogging; as an award-winning copywriter in London and New York, I shaped narratives for iconic brands. However, when friends sought advice during lockdown for at-home hair dyeing, I realized my true calling. Beyond being your hair color expert, I'm a mom of two girls, wife to artist Tony, and an avid soccer player!