GHD Duet Style vs. Unplugged vs. Platinum+ – Which one is better for you?

I still remember when GHD began to emerge in the hair care sector and practically only those who went to the hairdresser knew about it. Years later, it has become the leading brand in this field, and especially in the design and manufacture of hair straighteners. And I totally understand why, since it’s always on the cutting edge of technology. Therefore, I want to tell you what are the most important differences between the most modern GHD hair straighteners of the moment. These are the Duet Style, Unplugged and Platinum+ versions. 

There are many differences between the three hair straighteners, and what I like most about GHD is that it gives each one a unique quality. For example, it’s easy to guess that the GHD Unplugged is the only one of the three that can be used wirelessly, which I think is a big plus. And, if we stop at the name Duet Style, we sense that this hair straightener can have two functionalities.

Apart from this, it is also interesting to highlight the similarities that they share, and that are what make up a unique image that reminds us that we are using a GHD. The optimized heat technology that this brand relies on, the quality of the plate materials and the versatility that its hair straighteners offer for any type of hair are just some of the issues worth highlighting. If you want to check which hair straightener is best for you, don’t miss this review!

GHD Duet Style vs Unplugged vs Platinum+ – Comparison Table

In this table, we reflect the most important qualities and specifications of the three GHD hair straighteners on which we have based our comparison. Check their differences at a glance!

(Swipe the table to see all the content)

Three different design proposals

Although they have elements that remind us that they belong to GHD, these three hair straighteners have different aesthetic proposals. The GHD Platinum+ is the one with a design that we could define as the most classic, because it is the one that most reminds us of traditional irons. In the case of the GHD Unplugged, we see an extraordinary width at the bottom of the iron, right where both plates meet, which makes them have an almost rectangular shape.

And finally, the GHD Duet Style is easily recognizable because it has the widest plates of all, due to the double functionality it has. It is the only one of the three, and, really, the only one of all the GHD ones, that dries and irons at the same time. In this model, specifically, we found it very curious that, in the white plate, it seems that the plates are larger than in the black design.

Analyzing the plates more closely, in all three cases they are floating or tilting ceramic plates. However, in the case of the GHD Duet Style, the plates have a kind of grill through which the air flow goes from the inside to the outside in the drying function. This is one of the most important differences with respect to its two rivals.

What heat technology does each iron have?

As you’ve probably guessed by now, each hair straightener has a different heat technology, and it’s one of the reasons why each one of them is unique. The GHD Duet Style has AirFusion technology, thanks to which the air flow that goes outside is combined with the four plates at a low temperature. This makes the iron perform two functions at the same time, drying the hair and straightening it. It has a set of sensors that constantly take the temperature to prevent the hair from burning and ensure that drying and straightening are perfect. However, it is not the most suitable straightener for those who want to curl their hair.

Once the hair is dry, this GHD switches to Shine Shot mode, which provides the final shine to straight, frizz-free hair. To do this, as in the rest of GHD straighteners, it always acts at the optimal styling temperature, 185º C. The difference is that, in this case, it does so without air, because the hair has already been dried previously.

In the case of the GHD Unplugged, we find Hybrid Co-Lithium technology, a combination of Dual Zone technology with two ceramic heaters and a lithium-ion battery. Thus, it is also capable of monitoring the temperature in real time and always maintaining it at the same temperature.

Finally, the GHD Platinum+ works with Ultra Zone predictive technology. Thus, it integrates sensors that measure the size of the hair and the place where it is (whether it is located at the roots, in the middle or at the ends), to adapt the power and intensity and avoid burning the hair.

Heat-resistant protector, cover and automatic shut-off

Energy efficiency is one of GHD’s most important lines of work, and it reflects this in most of its plates. In this case, all of them have an automatic shutdown system when it detects several minutes of inactivity. This is also a safety feature, since it prevents unpleasantries if we accidentally leave the iron plugged in.

Likewise, all three irons have heat-resistant protectors whose purpose is to keep the plates protected from scratches in case you go on a trip. In this sense, if you leave home and want to take the hair straightener with you, you should know that all three models include a case to carry it.

Are they wireless?

Only the GHD Unplugged can be used wirelessly. That is, like the other two GHDs, it has a 2.7 meter long rotating cable, but it can be removed and used for about 20 minutes as a wireless hair straightener. This is an important advantage over the rest, since it is ideal if you have to go to an event such as a wedding or dinner and you need to bring the iron to touch up.

Warm-up time varies slightly

We don’t want to finish without talking about the warm-up time; That is, the time it takes each hair straightener to reach the optimal temperature, which is 185º C. The GHD Platinum+ is the fastest of all, because it only takes 20 seconds to reach it. This is followed by the GHD Duet Style, which takes about 30 seconds, and finally the GHD Unplugged, which takes 45 seconds. In any case, none of them last a minute to warm up, so the user experience is not affected. It must be said that the difference between the GHD Platinum+ and the Unplugged is noticeable if you compare them; since one takes twice as long as the other.

GHD Duet Style vs Unplugged vs Platinum+: Which is the best hair straightener?

As I told you at the beginning, GHD gives each of its irons a differentiating characteristic from the rest. This means that there is no one that is better than another, but the choice will depend on the main use you are going to make of the straightener, the type of hair you have and what your preferences are.

For example, if you tend to travel frequently, perhaps the one that interests you the most is the GHD Unplugged, because you can use it autonomously wherever you are. On the other hand, if you are one of those people who does not have much time to get ready and for you the main thing is to optimize time, there is none like the GHD Duet Style, since you combine two actions in the same device. That is, the time is reduced by half.

In particular, we tend more towards the Duet Style or the Unplugged than towards the Platinum+, because they seem like unique hair straighteners on the market. The Platinum+ is very good and offers good results, but it is surely easier to find it in other brands. As you can see, there is a hair straightener for everyone, you just have to reflect and think about what your preferences and budget limitations are.