A beauty editor's detailed ghd Unplugged review – what happened when she put this cordless styler to the test

A new tool from one of the leading names in straighteners always catches the attention of beauty fans. Which is exactly what happened when ghd launched a cordless straightener close to five years ago. For those who are still debating the purchase, my ghd Unplugged review will make for essential reading – giving you an overview of the design, performance and results in this detailed ghd Unplugged handbook of sorts.

Thanks to the invention of the best cordless straighteners, carrying a pair means we no longer have to worry quite so much about the rain wreaking havoc on our hair – or having to carry a full-sized pair around all day for a pre-dinner or drinks hair refresh. These compact, battery-powered tools, like ghd’s, are designed specifically on-the-move, away-from-home styling.

As both an experienced beauty editor and somebody with naturally loose curly hair, I've come to learn everything that goes into good pair of straighteners (as well as what makes a not-so-good pair of straighteners). I put the Unplugged through its paces to thoroughly assess its performance, sharing all of my learnings and expert insights here to help you decide if it's a good investment for your own hair. Here's what you need to know...

A beauty editor's ghd Unplugged review

The ghd Unplugged design

At the time of writing, the Unplugged styler is available in two different colour options. Matte Black and Matte White are the core designs that have been available since these straighteners first launched, but there have been limited edition colourways, such as for ghd's Breast Cancer Awareness Month partnership.

Shape-wise, the Unplugged features two fairly narrow plates and a wider base, where you’ll find the on switch; there's also a bar display here showing you how much battery is left while you style. Weighing just 300g, these straighteners are impressively light and easy to throw in your bag in the pencil case-like holder.

This cordless tool has also been designed as fully flight-friendly with the auto shut-off feature found in all of the best ghd straighteners, switching off after three minutes of inactivity for your peace of mind.

What attachments come with the ghd Unplugged Straigheners?

As the ghd Unplugged is an all-in-one tool, in other words a pair of mini straighteners, there are no attachments per se. However, as well as the necessary charger to power up your new straighteners, you'll also find a small zip-up case for travel and storage included with this tool, matching the overall design colour. A small downside here is that, while the case is very handy, it’s not big enough to fit the charger inside, too, and it would be nice to be able to keep everything you need to use your ghd Unplugged in one place.

How well does the ghd Unplugged Straightener perform?

I first tested the ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Straightener not long after it first launched and have previously taken it on holiday, so can attest to its space-saving design. You’ll also find some of the technology that makes ghd straighteners such greats here; dual-zone technology maintains what the brand finds to be the optimum styling temperature of 185°C, while the glossy plates have been designed to yield that signature sleek and smooth ghd finish.

Now, some background. My hair is curly, so it takes me a fair while to straighten it from its natural texture, and the battery power doesn’t last long enough to do a full transformation. If you're hoping to shop for the best straighteners for curly hair and not a tool that'll only give you a refresh, you may want to look elsewhere.

Instead, to demonstrate its styling powers in the before and after images seen here, I re-styled it after having slept with it in a bun – so smooth-ish, but in need of a bit of a once-over. It heats up in a pretty quick 45 seconds, which anyone who rushes to get ready in the mornings, like yours truly, will appreciate. Working in small sections (as the plates are on the small side), this refresh took me between 10-15 minutes and smoothed things over while retaining shape. The results are closer to an older tool from the brand than the newer ghd Chronos Styler, for example, but still noticeably smooth.

How does the ghd Unplugged Cordless Straightener compare?

For style points and sleekness of design, especially the plates, ghd's tools will always come out on top among experts. That same signature sleekness is felt across the Unplugged's admittedly compact design, and it still has a snag-free user experience in terms of actual straightening. We voted it the overall best in our dedicated cordless straightener guide; this balance of good tech and portability versus the limited, approx 20 minute battery life and small plate size, that made it the all-rounder of the bunch.

This latter areas are where other tools do outperform it somewhat. If you know anything about cordless straighteners, not just the ghd Unplugged but other models like the Dyson Corrale or Babyliss 9000, you’ll know that they aren’t known for coming with particularly long battery lives. When you compare the Unplugged's full charge of 20 minutes, though this is the average time you'll get others do still outperform it. Each of the two batteries that come with Revamp’s iGen Cordless straightener, for example, last for up to 40 minutes (though they are also significantly heavier). Other, bigger cordless models might not have the same travel friendly factor, but the bigger plates do make straightening a quicker experience.

Overall, then, both myself and my peers deem the Unplugged is more of a tool for touching up your style – which is how the brand markets it, too. The smoothing powers are good, but its power won’t last anywhere near long enough to straighten curly hair types from scratch.

ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Straightener review: My verdict

So, is the ghd Unplugged worth it? If I had to sum up this styler in a word, it’d be “handy”. It’s nice to have the convenience of ghd’s results in an ultra-light and portable tool, and these are certainly some of the best hair straighteners for travel.

With a price tag of almost £300, the convenience of having cordless functionality is an expensive investment. And, yes, there are models that are equipped with more battery power, but as a beauty editor who has tried most of the models on the market, I can say that it’s one of the most (if not the most) portable that doesn't compromise that all-important smooth finish. To conclude my ghd Unplugged review: if you have the means and want something lightweight that's ideal for on-the-go use as a "refresher" tool, this is still a good choice.

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