ghd Mini Styler — 0.5" Flat Iron Hair Straightener, Professional & Advanced Ceramic Heat Technology, Optimum Styling Hair Straightening Iron for Short Hair, Tight Curls, & Bangs — Black

I'm a guy so admittedly I'm not too familiar with the world of flat irons. My sister handed-me-down her ghd IV Classic which I used until its power cord went bad recently. So I upgraded to this. The Gold series is an improvement in several ways, and the 1/2 inch model is ideal for shorter hair styles.The 1/2" plates are ideal for reaching closer to the scalp for smoother flicks in high-visibility areas, like the front hairline. That's the main reason I bought this smaller model and now it is definitely easier to achieve the look I want.The heat-up time is also shorter but that might be true for the whole Gold series.Other than improved performance, there are some other changes I really appreciate. The obnoxious beeps of the IV have been changed a bit. When you flip the switch on, the power-on tone is much quieter. Unfortunately, the "ready" beeps are still very loud. But combined with the short heat-up time, this iron really helps to get my hair done in the early morning without waking up my roommate on account of noise or the smell.ghd also claims the plates are smoother and that this improves performance. My IV had a previous user so I can't really comment on this. But my Gold is definitely easier/faster for the intended use.Oh and the plate guard that comes with the Gold series. It's easy to slip on after use and it's vented. Also it clamps the iron together, making it easier/safer to transport. I think this is actually my favorite addition. Now I don't need to worry about where I set the iron after I'm finished using it.One thing ghd and all other manufacturer's should fix: the power cords. They suck. They feel cheap, stiff, moldable, and tangle easily. Instead, braid them in shrink-wrap or cloth, or take a cue from Apple's flexible cords/cables.Also I should note that the Prime-eligible seller that I bought this from may have forgot to mention that the product wasn't exactly "New". Maybe it was unused but when I received it, the packaging was not sealed in anyway, and the contents were freely moving all over inside. Didn't quite seem like the state you find something in when it's brand new. But I paid only $120 for this so I'm satisfied.

I start out by saying I had a very positive experience with my old GHD that I later passed to my sister and had to buy this one new. I know I was buying a quality product therefore I was ok in paying more (considerably more if you think of some straighteners are sold for few tens of dollars) but even then I wanted to take few months before actually reviewing this product. Here it is: I am having a positive experience with an average use of once/twice a week on short hair about 1 inches long. In addition to the technical details you will read yourself, I can tell this GHD feels durable and sturdy in your hands, doesn't feel like overheating and never burned my hair or did funky stuff. Takes few seconds to get to temperature and just does its job even better than my old GHD. The handle is comfortable and makes you move the straightener on your head with perfect control and direction. I am not familiar with less expensive models and they might just do as well as this GHD but I hate to take the risk of spending half the money for something that doesn't last or doesn't make my hair as I want. FYI my old GHD is still working great for my sister after about 6 years.

Heats up so fast! You don't have to worry about heat settings. Comes with a nice protective sleeve after you've finished styling so you don't burn anything. I bought this after I had been seeing my current hair stylist for over a year and noticed that this was her go-to-tool that tamed my frizz and gave me a sleek, curly look. You can straighten or curl your hair with this flat-iron! I owned a lesser-quality flat iron at the time (which only straightened and couldn't curl hair because of how the casing held the plates) and because it wasn't broken, I had a hard time justifying the purchase of a replacement - and this is expensive, too. One day, I saw this on sale and I could not resist. I'm thankful I did. Just one use of the GHD and I gave my old flat iron away.

It stopped working after only a couple of uses

I am not sure why this straightener has received such bad reviews. I have bought two now and have not had any trouble with either one of them. I was super skeptical to purchase because of the reviews so I made sure to buy the warranty Amazon offers with it, but have not had to use it. I have bangs and can't live without the 1/2 inch iron to get them straight as can be. I would not recommend this iron if you are wanting to do mid to long length hair though. For my shoulder length bob and bangs it works like a charm!

By far the best straightener I have used. Gives hair a smoothness and shine that is really remarkable. However, the straightener only lasts about 6-7 months. I have been through 3 of these now and like clockwork one of the plates stops heating after 6-7 months of use. Luckily GHD offers a 2 year warranty on the gold series 5 line. But its annoying to not have the straightener for a few weeks while its being sent to GHD to be fixed and then returned.

I have used the 1" GHD for years and LOVE it. Just recently cut off 16" of my hair! This 1/2" styler is perfect for my short layers!!! GHD has an excellent 2 year warranty. When my 1" Styler wasn't getting as hot as it did when I first bought it, I called them and they sent me a brand new one! LOVE GHD!!!

Love this mini Ghd flat iron. It gets the edges of my hair perfectly!