The GHD Unplugged Cordless Styler is reduced by more than £80 for Amazon Prime Day

As someone with naturally straight hair, I never found it necessary to use a flatiron — that is, until I met the GHD Unplugged flatiron. I used to associate the styling tool with my curly-haired friends in high school, who would sit for hours in front of the mirror, painstakingly straightening their hair, and employing my help for the hard-to-reach sections at the back. As an impressionable high schooler, I tried straightening my hair before a sweet 16 party and was left with limp, straight strands with no body or movement — not to mention the pungent smell of burning hair. Needless to say, I swore off straighteners from that moment on.

Fast-forward 10 years, and I’m the senior beauty editor at GLAMOUR, where I’m lucky enough to test the latest and greatest hair tools. From curling wands to hair dryers, I’m always game to try new tools — except when it comes to flatirons. So, when our 2022 Beauty Awards came around and I was tasked with testing flatirons in the straight-hair category, I was a bit wary.

ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Styler in White

But a lot has changed since high school. Technology has developed; plus, I now know the basic rules of hot tools (the most obvious: Don’t fry your hair!). Armed with heat protectant spray, I reached for the GHD Unplugged and immediately became a convert.

I thought I didn’t need a flatiron, but it turns out I definitely do, and the GHD is perfect for styling straight hair. It comes in a travel-friendly compact design made for tossing in a gym bag or suitcase but has all the power of a regular-size GHD flatiron. The biggest selling point is the cordless feature — the first of its kind for the brand — which allows you to style around your head quickly with ease. The long-lasting co-lithium battery charges in just two hours and offers up to 20 minutes of continuous use.

For all my curly-haired friends who want straight, sleek hair — this is probably not the iron for you. GHD makes it clear that this iron is made for touch-ups and on-the-go styling, and although the compact size lends itself well to travel, the smaller ceramic plates won’t fare well against thick curly hair. For people with naturally straight hair who want to amp up a glass hair look or refresh some limp curls, it’s the perfect way to style without overpowering your straight strands. It smooths out hair, without leaving them too straight or frying ends, thanks to the safer-for-hair 365°F temperature.

At first, I was put off by the battery life — just 20 minutes of continuous use? But I realised that the allotted 20 minutes actually kept me from spending too much time styling and in a way protected me from heat damage. It can be so tempting to straighten the same section over and over again — but all it takes is one pass for my hair to look shiny, straight, and most important, healthy with the GHD Unplugged.