How to spot fake GHD straighteners

The GHD IV hair straightener is one of the most popular flat irons in the world. Named Cosmopolitan's 2008 "Best Hairstyling Gadget" and with GHD's turnover now exceeding £100 million per year, the product has grown from its cult following earlier in the decade to become one of the most sought-after hair straighteners available.

But how do you spot fake GHD straighteners?

The GHD IV is marketed as a high-end hair straightener with loads of safety and convenience features. The RRP on the GHD IV is around £119, but it is a product well worth the price, featuring ceramic plates that maintain a steady temperature for straightening hair and a rounded barrel for creating luscious curls. The GHD IV also has a sleep mode, temperature protection, static-free surface area and universal voltage. Unfortunately, the popularity of GHD hair straighteners means it is frequently counterfeited and sold to unsuspecting consumers. While buying a knockoff GHD IV styler at a knockoff price might sound alluring, with counterfeit products you lose many of the guarantees and features that have made the GHD popular in the first place. There is no warranty, and non-authentic GHD hair straighteners can damage your hair and even cause fires. Thousands of companies now offer the GHD IV around the world; how do you know if you're buying the real thing? Follow our checklist to authenticate your GHD straightener: Buy from a respected retailer - Products sold from overseas or "secondhand" sites are frequently counterfeit because there is no accountability. Buy from a reputable merchant located in your home country. Visit the official GHD website - Register your product online to active the two-year warranty. This is a quick and easy step to verify that your GHD IV is genuine, as fake serial numbers will be rejected by the system. You can also look for these GHD IV product features:

Authentic GHD packaging

- Genuine GHD hair straighteners come with a serial numbered product, CD, instruction booklet and power adaptor.

Official GHD holograms

- Look for holograms on the tag (attached to the cord) and on the straightener's inner body. The serial numbers should match and be verified on the official GHD website.

Metal hinge pins

- Authentic GHD hair straighteners have metal hinge pins, not plastic. In fact, any appearance of a cheap plastic design should be taken as a warning sign, as real GHD straighteners are very well made and do not "feel cheap".

Check the model numbers

- If you have one of the special edition pink GHD straighteners, the model number will not have a "B" at the end (the "B" stands for "black"). When all other authentication checks out, there's one more step - check the price. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, legitimate retailers do often have sales on their items, but a popular product like the GHD IV straightener at a super-budget price (less than £60) is too good to be true. As long as the item remains popular, the prices will remain in the range of £80-£120.