Can a £19.99 Remington Really Replace Your GHDs? What 100 Owners Told Us

The GHD comparison that won't go away

Let me start with the thing that surprised me most about this product's reviews, because you cannot ignore it. So many owners bought these only because their old GHDs had died, expected a step down for the price, and ended up preferring the Remington.

Stephanie Elliott put it bluntly: "Don't usually leave reviews but these are better than my GHDs. I won't use GHDs ever again. These leave my hair straight ALL day. I've even had compliments on how shiny my hair is. 10/10." Alison Kneale went further and said her hairdresser recommended them, adding that her pricier GHDs "are not a patch on these." MrsK, who told us she had "been reliant on GHDs daily for over 20+ years," switched and called the Remington "so much better. Faster, straighter, much less effort."

I want to be fair, because not everyone agrees. One sharply worded one-star review from a reviewer posting as Compulsive Reader argued the opposite: "Whoever said this was as good as GHD has never owned GHD." So it is not unanimous. But the weight of opinion leans heavily toward this being a credible, much cheaper alternative, and that is unusual for a £19.99 tool.

Where it actually shines (the argan oil bit)

The headline feature is the Advanced Ceramic coating infused with Moroccan Argan Oil and Vitamin E. Remington says these micro conditioners release through the plates as they heat. The marketing also cites a consumer blind test of 60 people that found 86 percent more shine versus their own high street straightener, excluding heavily bleached hair, so take that as a brand claim rather than independent proof.

What matters more is whether owners notice it, and most do. Bardy, whose review was the most-voted-helpful of the batch, wrote that "the ceramic plates infused with Moroccan argan oil glide easily through the hair and leave it looking noticeably shinier after styling." Rachel Yao described "straighter and shinier with less frizz afterwards." Julie Summers, who told us she is 54, said simply: "The shine on my hair is amazing... these have transformed my hair."

One caveat worth flagging: a three-star reviewer called Misty felt the oil effect faded, saying "the shine benefit isn't as strong after the second or third use." Most reviewers did not raise that, but if a permanent salon-grade gloss is your expectation, keep it realistic.

Fast heat, wide plates, and the everyday stuff

The practical specs are easy to like. There is a 15-second heat-up, a digital display with nine settings from 150°C to 230°C, floating plates for even pressure, and an auto shut-off after 60 minutes. The plates are also notably wide, which keeps coming up as a quiet advantage.

Speed is the most repeated compliment. "Heats up fast and makes my hair straight very fast," wrote Donna.F. Farrah J. claimed she gets her long hair done "in 5 mins flat." The width is the secret weapon for thick and curly hair: Tcee said "the wideness helps with my long thick hair, takes me less than 10 minutes," and a reviewer posting as My bunny loves this, who described "very thick, curly hair that's prone to frizz," said the results "lasted all day which has never happened."

The nine temperature settings get specific praise from people with finer or more delicate hair. bcakes, with "fine bobbed hair," liked being able to dial the heat down, and Ms simplydebs loved being able to "turn them down to 160 degrees." If you have been burning fine hair on a single-temperature styler, that range is the feature to notice.

The complaints worth taking seriously

No tool at this price is flawless, and a fair review names the weak spots. Two come up most.

The first is longevity. A handful of owners reported the unit failing within months to a couple of years. Kelly's stopped "after 6 months... due to cable," Julie Fincham's quit "bang on 2 years of limited use," and one four-star reviewer said theirs lasts "9-12 months," though tellingly they keep rebuying anyway. Worth knowing: Remington lists a 5 year manufacturer's guarantee, plus an extra year if you register online, so check that cover if a unit fails early.

The second is the cord. Suzanne, who liked the plates, called the lead "an absolute nightmare, constantly twists and tangles." Misty also found "the cord is a bit stiff and doesn't rotate." A third, smaller theme is snagging: most say the plates glide, but a few, including Mohammed Mayet and Jennifer, found they caught and pulled the odd hair.

Then there are the smaller niggles you would only learn from real use. The plates can get hot near the edge, and Suzip reported burning a thumb. There is no dedicated off switch, so Anika Waterhouse noted the bright blue display "stays on constantly" if left plugged in. And TJS flagged it is awkward for left-handed users, who may nudge the temperature buttons mid-style.

So who should buy it, and is it worth £19.99?

Here is how I would sort it. If you want sleek, shiny, everyday hair and you have balked at premium prices, this is an easy recommendation. The shine and glide land for most people, the wide plates handle thick and curly hair well, and the nine settings make it safer for fine hair. The volume of owners cheerfully abandoning GHDs is hard to ignore.

If you straighten daily and demand absolute one-pass salon results, or you have very thick, stubborn hair, temper your expectations slightly: a few reviewers needed extra passes, and the build quality feels budget if you go looking for it. Rhiannon summed up that balance well, saying they "feel very cheap" but for the price "I won't go back to GHD's."

At £19.99 with a strong 4.6 average across more than 35,000 ratings, the value case is the easiest part of this review. Keep your receipt and register for the guarantee given the durability reports, and you have very little to lose.