Everyone remembers their first pair of GHD hair straighteners. Just hearing the name takes me back to my teenage bedroom, the smell of Charlie Red perfume lingering in the air, and the sizzling sound as I ignored all beauty advice and dragged the plates down my damp hair in a rush. The bus into town was arriving in 5 minutes and I had places to be (notably, hanging out at the park). While I’ve learnt my haircare lesson since, the iconic hair tool has also come a long way since the original trusty styler.
It’s no secret that I like to experiment with my hair. From adding hair tinsel to most recently giving the gemini hair trend a whirl, I’ll be the first to admit it’s not in the healthiest condition. While it’s easy to add some moisture back in with a hair mask like the Andrew Fitzsimons Virgin Repair Mask (£13), I know that the most of the damage comes from the heated tools I use on a daily basis.
In the last few years, I’d moved on from my GHDs. My go-to styling routine nowadays usually begins with the critically-acclaimed Dyson Air Wrap to dry my hair, brushing it with the smoothing brush attachment and finishing off with the round brush to add some volume. While it’s a tool that is relatively easy to use, due to my long, thick hair, it can take almost an hour to style and the machine often overheats. I’ve had it for a while and I’ve found my hair now has a lot more breakage, probably from all the times my hair has been caught in the attachments. Plus, after all the faffing, the style often drops the moment I step outside.
What I really want in my routine is something that gives me lasting results without having to put my hair under the stress of high temperatures and tangly attachments. So, when I saw that the GHD Duet Style promises to transform hair from wet to styled with no thermal hair damage, and no added hair dryer, I knew I had to see if it worked.
About the GHD Duet Style
- The tool uses a combination of hot airflow and 4 heated styling plates which reach a temperature of 150°C.
- The smart styling plates monitor heat every 5 milliseconds to maintain an optimal low styling temperature.
- The style holds for up to 48 hours.
- It features a Shine Shot™ mode for smooth finish.
What I Like About the GHD Duet Style
The first thing I noticed about the GHD Duet Style was the size. At first glance, I wondered if it was going to be too heavy to use easily, but it’s surprisingly lightweight. The large plates mean you can section hair into wider chunks, which definitely makes it quicker than if I was just using a standard hair straightener.
The design is sleek and modern and I loved the simplicity of it. There’s only two buttons, one to turn the machine on and one to activate Shine Shot™, an added feature specifically for styling hair without the drying function.
As the tool is for towel-dried hair, I could use it immediately after washing my hair which was a godsend as someone who is always in a rush. With my Dyson Airwrap, I have to use a standard hair dryer to remove 80 percent of the moisture before I can begin styling it, meaning essentially there is still an additional step from wet to styled.
Although, it did take me a couple of tries to work out the right technique for the GHDs. The large plates were leaving a small kink at the root before I figured out the right strand size and position to hold it in. It was also taking longer than I thought to completely dry but after some practice, I got it down to 15 minutes to finish my whole head.
One huge selling point is the promise of no thermal hair damage. While I’d still recommend using a heat protectant spray like the Hair Proud 5-in-1 Protection Milk (£9), the Research & Development experts at GHD state that there was no thermal hair damage detected after 4 passes in wet to style mode compared to naturally dried hair and I definitely felt this. Testing a heated styling tool in the height of summer isn’t always the best idea, but even when it was 30°C outside, I noticed the cooler temperature this tool uses compared to other ones I own.
The most important thing for me in any styling product is the time-saving aspect. With the GHD Duet Style, not only can I go from sopping wet to styled hair in the time it takes to watch half an episode of “The Office”, the results actually lasted. Even though the tool offers the Shine Shot™ functionality which the brand advises using on second day hair, I really didn’t need it. My hair stayed dead-straight for at least two to three days after the initial use.
How to Use the GHD Duet Style
After brushing out my towel-dried hair with the Tangle Teezer Wet Detangler Hairbrush (£14), I sectioned my hair into a half-up half-down style. Starting with the bottom layer, I took a section about three inches wide and placed it between the plates. The instructions said to hold the tool close to the roots for about three seconds before slowly gliding it down the length of hair. I repeated this process until the bottom layer was complete and then continued with the middle and top layer.
After my hair was fully dried, I noticed some flyaways that needed taming and I was intrigued to see if the Shine Shot™ really delivered. After pressing the extra button and waiting for the fan to stop, I used the tool like any standard hair straightener. Starting from my roots again and just gently ran it down the length to smooth the style.
What to Consider Before Trying the GHD Duet Style
If you’re looking to save some time in the mornings and reduce the amount of appliances lying around your bedroom, the GHD Duet Style is a great option.
One thing to keep in mind is that you can only achieve limited styles, the main one being straight. The tool definitely delivers on its promise of a glossy, kink-free finish, but you won’t be able to achieve mermaid waves, flick out curtain bangs, or a bouncy blowdry with this product. GHD advises that it is possible to create loose curls in the same way as a regular styler, but given the wider plates, curls will be like those created using GHD Max Styler. I did attempt to create some loose waves, but I couldn’t quite master the art.
The tool has been tested on a range of hair types but I can imagine it’s slightly harder to use on curly or textured hair. For these hair types, GHD recommends sectioning hair into smaller parts, leading the styler with a comb or brush, and keeping tension on the hair. So, while it’s still usable, it might take more time to achieve the same results.
Is the GHD Duet Style Worth the Money?
After nine years of development, there’s no doubt that the GHD Duet Style is one of the most innovative hair tools on the market. The smart styling plates contain infinity sensors that predict your hair’s specific needs and adjust to the optimal temperature as you’re using it.
I really liked the 2-in-1 drying and straightening feature, but with a hefty price tag, it would definitely be an investment to replace your normal hair dryer and straightener routine.
Where Is the GHD Duet Style Available?
The GHD Duet Style (£379) is available in black or white directly from the GHD website, John Lewis, and Cult Beauty.
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