GHD Glide Hot Brush review: is this the solution to styling second day hair?

Price: Currently £134

Our rating: 8/10

We like:

• Easy to use
• Lightweight design
• Turns off automatically after 60 minutes of non-use

We don’t like:

• Only one temperature option
• Can’t use it on wet hair

What is the GHD Glide Hot Brush, and how does it work?

The Glide Hot Brush is GHD’s first foray into the world of hot brushes, also known as heated stylers, that are designed to be used on dry hair unlike hairdryers. It promises to tame frizz and smooth hair with minimal effort, however it’s worth noting that this brush doesn’t simultaneously dry and style hair like some, and instead the tool is better for using on second day hair.

Like all the other GHD stylers, it uses ceramic technology that heats up the brush to a consistent temperature that won’t cause damage to your hair. The tool itself has a combination of both shorter and longer bristles, which means you’re able to style larger sections of hair in one go while still ensuring the finished result is smooth and has natural movement, rather than being poker straight.

Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended

Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product at the best price. No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.

How we test hot brushes

When we test hot brushes, we look for general ease of use as well as taking into account the design and weight of the tool itself, how quickly it heats up and how much skill is required when styling the hair, plus the final result we were able to achieve. Other things we take note of include any safety features – such as automatic sleep mode – and the length of the cord.

Design: 9 out of 10

My immediate thought when I first lifted the brush out of the box was that it felt quite heavy, but after holding it for a few seconds and getting used to it, I realised that it was about on par with the weight of my usual straighteners. It does feel comfortable to hold and is easy to glide through the hair from root to tip, and despite having relatively thick hair (I have to separate it into around 3 or 4 layers when styling) my arm didn’t ache at all while using it.

It feels like excellent quality, it’s comfortable to hold and the bristles are quite firm which I liked. The brush itself doesn’t come with a heat protective bag or sleeve for storage, but the box it’s packaged in does feel sturdy and good quality so you could store it in there if you wanted to.

Usability: 9/10

The Glide is definitely quite intuitive to use and fairly self-explanatory, although the instructions are clear and easy to understand if they’re needed. To use it, it’s simply a case of turning it on, waiting for it to heat up and then brushing it through your hair.

There’s only one control button that you press to turn it both on and off. It takes just over a minute to heat up and there’s a telltale bleep when it’s ready to use. The only downside is that due to the placement of the button, I did find myself occasionally catching it with my thumb, meaning I was prone to accidentally turning it off mid-use.

Convenience: 9/10

For context, it’s important to know that my hair has a natural curl to it, and so between washes I tend to go over it with the straighteners. For testing purposes, I completely replaced my straighteners with the Glide and it did speed up my second (and third) day hair routine.

I didn’t need to go over many sections multiple times like I usually do, I didn’t need to brush it before styling and I found that it really worked to help smooth and straighten my hair with minimal effort. It was also really helpful to have a professional-length cable (2.7m) as it meant I could plug it in, stretch it across my bedroom to my mirror and still be able to use the tool with ease.

Safety: 10/10

One of the best features of the Glide is that it doesn’t exceed 185ºC, meaning it won’t cause any heat damage (experts agree that hair starts to damage when exposed to temperatures above 200ºC). It also uses ceramic technology which ensures the brush heats up consistently and helps ensure hair is healthier looking. Plus, there’s ion technology used within the brush itself that helps to get rid of frizz, and the combination of both short and long bristles helps with overall smoothness, too. Finally, it has a very useful automatic sleep mode, which turns the tool off after 60 minutes of non-use.

Results: 9/10

Overall I was pleased with the results. My hair looked and felt smooth and I found the tool did always glide easily through my hair – despite not always brushing it beforehand and even when it was a little bit tangled after sleeping with it in a messy top knot. My hair never felt frazzled and I didn’t ever hear it snap or get caught in the tool like it sometimes can with my straighteners.

I do think my hair could have looked a little bit shinier, but that might be more to do with its general condition rather than the tool itself. I was also impressed that the results did tend to last all day, something that doesn’t always happen if I use other types of blow-dry brushes to style my hair.

Technical specifications

The Cloud Nine Hot Brush is the main competitor to the GHD Glide. Both are similar in practice, but the GHD hot brush is heavier and more expensive.

The Telegraph Verdict

Overall I was impressed with the GHD Glide and it’s not a tool I would have ever considered using before testing it. It does only really have one use though, which is to smooth and straighten hair, so if you’re looking for something more multi-functional then this probably isn’t for you. However, if like me, you wear your hair straight most days then I think this is definitely worth considering.

It’s not the cheapest product, but like with all GHD tools, the technology used is impressive and it’s good quality so it should last you a long time. It also won’t damage your hair and the fact it has an auto-sleep function means you won’t be plagued by those middle-of-the-day panics that you left it turned on.

FAQs

Can the GHD Glide Hot Brush be used on all hair types?

While the GHD Glide Hot Brush is designed and suitable to be used on all hair types, from thin to thick, straight, curly, coily and everything in between, the results you’re able to achieve may differ.

Can the GHD Glide Hot Brush be used on damp hair?

No, the GHD Glide is a heated styling tool and so, like a pair of straighteners or curlers, it is designed to be used on dry hair. It can be used in place of straighteners if you prefer a style that’s smooth but not poker straight and still has some movement.