Troubleshooting common ghd faults

ghd hair straighteners are well made, but like all electrical appliances they can develop faults. Knowing the common ones can help you decide whether a repair is needed. Here's a guide to some of the most common problems.

ghd straighteners don't heat up

• Check the power: make sure they're plugged in properly and the socket is working.
• Check the cable: look for damage such as fraying or kinks, which can mean a wiring fault.
• Internal faults: if there's nothing visibly wrong and they still don't heat up, there may be an internal fault such as a failed heating element or a blown thermal fuse.

ghd straighteners overheat

This can mean a faulty thermistor, the temperature sensor the circuit board uses to control the heat. Usually this makes the internal thermal fuse blow, but sometimes ghds run hotter than they should without blowing the fuse. You can check with a suitable thermometer that reads above 250°C. With the plates closed, the temperature should be around 180°C. A repair is recommended to fix this, so please contact us.

They don't get hot enough

• One plate has failed: check whether one plate isn't heating. If one plate fails, the overall temperature drops. On v3, v4 and v5 models, because of the way they're designed, it's usually the plate on the switch side that fails. On the ghd Gold, each plate has its own temperature sensor and thermal fuse, so either side can fail. The heater plate will need replacing.
• Both plates warm: if both plates heat but stay below the normal temperature, the thermistor may be faulty and need checking or replacing.

Unusual noise or smell

Buzzing, crackling or a burning smell can mean a serious electrical problem. Unplug the straighteners straight away and have them checked before using them again.

Repairing electrical appliances yourself can be dangerous and may void any warranty. If in doubt, have them checked by a qualified repairer.