The festive season is full of reasons to get dressed up, from office parties to family gatherings. From sleek, straight looks to soft, textured waves, the right hairstyle often ties an outfit together, making a good pair of straighteners a must on the dressing table. 

With Black Friday just around the corner, it’s a great time to pick up a new flat iron for less. Currently, Amazon is selling GHD’s Original upgraded hair straightener and styler for £92.78 in its Black Friday sales – that’s 33% off the full £139 price.

This sleek set of straighteners features GHD’s ‘single-zone ceramic technology’ that maintains the optimum styling temperature of 185°C to deliver lasting results without extreme heat. According to the brand, any hotter than this can break hair bonds and cause irreversible damage.

Thanks to a rounded barrel, the Original straighteners can also be used to create soft waves and bouncy curls, and GHD says they’re suitable for all hair types. On top, they’ve been through rigorous testing to ensure lasting performance, including drop tests over 50,000 times and clamp tests over 70,000 times, according to the brand. 

Shoppers who really want to push the boat out on a high-end model could consider the Dyson Airstrait hair straighteners, which Currys has for £349, as it’s currently running £100 off. They use high-pressure air flow rather than hot plates, drying and straightening hair at the same time without any heat damage.

On the cheaper side, Boots is currently selling the Revamp Dynamic Radiance Straight & Style ceramic ionic hair straightener for £59.99 – £60 off its usual price of £119.99 as part of the retailer’s Black Friday sale. Revamp says the extra-long 100mm ceramic plates can be adjusted from 150°C to 23°C, delivering versatile straightening for all hair types. 

Many shoppers are happy with the GHD hair straighteners, however. The product is currently rated 4.6 out of five, with over 4,800 reviews, and Amazon says more than 2,000 have been bought in the past month. One shopper said: “Great product. Never got this satisfaction from any other hair straightener.

“It never leaves the hair as dry and rough. Gives you silky smooth hair. Amazingly perfect for straightening and styling.” A second added: “Great buy, a gift for my daughter, and she can’t believe how easy to use they are, a great improvement on her old ones! She loves them.”

A third chimed in: “I’ve always found GHD long-lasting, and my last ones have lasted 10+ years. Bought these and they’re the same quality as my last ones. They do a really great job on my long, thick hair.”

One customer gave the product five stars, but did leave feedback, saying: “Bought to replace one – the new feature of turning it on by a button is a bit annoying, but otherwise a great item.”

Another mentioned a slight design change from a previous model: “My last pair gave up after 20 years. Love these, I like the little tune when they are up to full heat. They glide through my hair. The only thing I need to get used to that they have a curved outer case and don’t sit like the others. I just use a silicone mat. Here’s to the next 20 years.”