By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-11-05 08:02:12
1 week ago
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Price: £179
Our rating: 9/10
We like:
- Easy, intuitive controls
- Lightweight
- Can be used to create volume at the roots, big bouncy hair and waves
We don’t like:
- Tugs on the hair slightly
- Takes a bit of practise to perfect curls and waves
What is the GHD Rise Hot Brush?
Combining the features of a hairbrush and a heated styling tool, a hot brush can help you style, add volume and create curls and waves with a single device.
GHD’s Rise hot brush takes things one step further by allowing you to create three different looks: volume at the roots, soft beachy waves or a bouncy blow-out look. It also boasts twice the volume at the roots and body in the lengths compared to other hot brushes.
It does this with a 32mm barrel, nylon bristles and ultra-zone technology to monitor heat 250 times a second. This means you can heat style your hair without worrying that you’re damaging your hair at the same time.
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How we test hot brushes
To test the GHD Rise hot brush, I used it several times over the duration of a week. This allowed me to practise styling with the hot brush, try different techniques and see how well the styles I created held throughout the day. I also scored the hot brush out of 10 on a range of categories including my results, its usability, convenience, safety on the hair and design. Here’s how it measured up...
Design: 10 out of 10
As with all GHD products, the Rise hot brush has a recognisable design and feels very well built. Like their iconic straightener, it has just a single on/off button on the handle which heats the brush up in 25 seconds. It feels lightweight in hand and comes in a smart presentation box.
Sadly, it doesn’t come with a storage case or any other accessories such as hair clips for styling, which would be handy for placing it down when in use or for storing away when travelling.
Usability: 8/10
As soon as I took the GHD Rise from the brush, I started using it within a few moments. It turns on simply with the on/off button and heats up in just a few seconds. The instructions in the manual are clear and there’s a number of tutorial videos on the GHD website so you can start styling immediately. I found using this hot brush fairly intuitive and could create soft waves and curls quite quickly.
I had mixed results with getting them to last, however, and it does take some practise so it’s worth buying ahead of time (if you want to use it for a big event like a party or wedding) so you’ve got time to get to grips with it. If you are fairly skillful at curling or styling your hair, you’ll have no problem using this device.
Convenience: 9/10
The GHD Rise is a lightweight and convenient device that is easy to store away or pack in a bag when travelling. It doesn’t come with a storage bag or heat-resistant mat, however, like GHD straighteners do. It has a good cord length that allows me to plug it into the closest mains socket and reach the mirror easily without feeling restricted. I could also reach the back of my head with ease.
In terms of convenience, it heats up quickly and there’s just a single button to operate. I found it easy to start using the brush. But it was trickier to get the styles I created to hold; they dropped out quite easily.
Safety: 10/10
GHD is well known for its technology in protecting the hair from heat damage, so it’s no surprise that the GHD Rise has impressive credentials in this area. The barrel has an advanced infinity sensor within it to ensure an optimum temperature of 185C is consistently maintained throughout while styling.
The barrel also has 5mm nylon bristles which I found tugged on my hair a little as I styled. However, it didn’t leave my hair feeling damaged. The styler can also be used to add volume to the roots, with SMART ultra-zone technology. There are tutorials on the GHD website to learn how to do this. I found it was trickier than it looked.
Results: 8/10
As someone who has above shoulder-length hair and isn’t that skilled in hair styling, I found I could create a wave but found it harder to create a look that lasted for a long time. However, I used the styler on air-dried hair and was impressed with the volume it gave my hair, even if my curling technique needs work.
My hair also felt very soft after using it, even after going over the same piece of hair a few times while testing it out. It’s worth noting that this heat styler is designed for use on dry hair and can’t be used to blow dry the hair like a hair dryer such as the Remington Hydraluxe Volumising Hot Air Styler.
Technical specifications
GHD’s Rise hot brush is excellent for creating volume in your hair, while its competitor from the same brand, the GHD Glide hot brush, is better for smoothing and taming hair. Both use GHD’s standard 185C temperature to style hair, but features differ slightly in terms of weight and cord type to accommodate how each is used. Here’s how they stack up.
The Telegraph verdict: 9/10
At £179, the GHD Rise is an expensive styling tool. For it to be worth it to you, I think you need to have an intermediate skill level when it comes to styling. I’m definitely at a beginner level and I don’t think my skills are good enough to get the full potential out of this as a tool.
In terms of creating a wavy look, I think you can probably create a similar look with a pair of GHD straighteners (or any straighteners for that matter) so I don’t think it’s necessary to have both tools in your arsenal. If you’re very skilled at styling and have thicker hair than mine that holds styles well, I think you can use this to create a number of different looks and would enjoy its versatility and convenience.
FAQs
How does the GHD Rise Hot Brush work?
The GHD Rise has a smooth bristled brush that heats up to a constant 185C temperature. This allows you to heat style the hair by adding volume at the roots without burning the scalp, creating a full bodied look or soft beachy waves.
Is the GHD Rise Brush suitable for all hair types?
GHD says that the Rise brush can be used on all hair types and lengths. We found it works best on smaller sections of hair so it may take longer to create a full blown-out if you have very thick, long hair.
How long does it take to heat up the GHD Rise Hot Brush?
It takes 25 seconds for the GHD Rise hot brush to heat up.
What is the best way to use the GHD Rise Hot Brush on my hair?
This device is designed to be used on completely dry hair. You can use it to create three core looks: volume at the roots, a full-bodied blow-dried look, and soft beachy waves.
