The first thing you’ll want to do is section your hair.  Always start with a small section of hair.  The larger the section of hair, the bigger and bouncier the curls you will have.  Hold your ghd at the end and wrap your hair around the bottom plate.  You’ll want to gently grip the hair as you close the plates.

To create the curl, you will rotate the hair outwards as you glide the ghd down toward the end.  Repeat this until you have curled all of your hair.  As you work through your hair, remember that it is not necessary to start very close to the roots – if you do, you’ll find that there will be too much volume at the top of your head.

You can get really great curls with your ghd because of the rounded plates.  Those other stylers out there without bevelled plates actually create unnatural looking dents in your hair, more like crimping, than curls.

Remember, if you don’t get your curls right the first time around, that’s OK!  Once the section you just tried cools down, you can try again.  The back of your head will always be the most challenging, but don’t give up!

The first thing to remember when working with your ghd is that the best way to learn more about your styler is to use it a lot!  However, as you play around with different techniques and styles, keep these basic tips in mind.

• Choose a technique suitable for your hair type. While the basic principle to using a ghd styler is the same for all hair types, you may want to take care to move more slowly with thicker hair.  You might even need to repeat steps to get the desired look.

• Protect your hair. Regardless of your hair type, you’ve got to protect it from the high temperature your ghd can reach.  Use a heat protectant on both wet and dry hair before styling.  This will help prevent damage.
• Section off your hair. The best way to achieve a great look is to work in sections.  Stay organised and be patient.  Invest in some elastic bands or clips so that sectioning your hair is easy.
• Think about your finish.  The angle at which you hold your styler will affect the finish of your hair.  If you tilt your ghd toward your face as you near the ends, your hair will turn under.  If you tilt it away from your face, you will get adorable flicks at the end.  Don’t angle your styler if you want a super straight look.
• Store your ghd properly. Once your ghd has cooled down, you should store it properly to get the most out of it.  Fold the cord the way it wants to bend naturally and never wind it around the body of the styler!

Believe it or not, coming up with the names for nail polish is a complicated and detailed process – at least at O.P.I.  The name really is important.  Sure, you see the colour, but what is it called?  If the name is savvy and cool, you are more likely to buy it over a plain old “red.”

About 20 or 30 years ago, the colours of nail polish were simply something such as “Mauve No. 7” which isn’t sexy or fun.  That’s what nail colour is all about – fun!  The people over at O.P.I. wanted to make it an emotional experience, so they started coming up with fun names.  In fact, they are the trailblazers in naming nail polish.  Other companies have since jumped on the bandwagon.

So, how does O.P.I. do it?  They take their creative team on inspirational trips to get ideas for each nail colour collection.  After the trip, the team gets together and takes a workday to bounce ideas off each other and that’s how the name ends up on the bottom of the bottle!  If you’ve got a bottle of O.P.I. go ahead and take a look.  You might notice an offbeat riff of a landmark or food from a particular region.

Just like nail polish, your ghd styler probably has a name.  Which one did you buy?  The pink orchid?  The classic gold?  Maybe both?

1. Start by spritzing your hair with an all-over spray that will not only reduce some of the “slip” you have in your hair, but also add a little shine.
2. Make a tidy part in your hair, either in the middle or on the side.  Then, section your hair into three areas from the crown of your head to your ear on each side.  Secure each section with a clip – you should have three.
3. Form a ponytail with the section of hair at the back of your head.  Now, take each section of hair and use your ghd styler on it.  Always smooth from the root to the tip.
4. Repeat step number 3 with the two other sections of hair.  Form them into one section and secure the higher section with an elastic band.  Now you have two ponytails, one high and one low.
5. Here’s the tricky part – smooth the higher ponytail over the lower one and secure it again with another elastic band.
6. Take a small piece of hair and wrap it around the elastic to disguise it.  Spray some hairspray to hold it in place.  (This looks a lot better than an ugly elastic band.)
7. Run your ghd through the ponytail itself to give it a super sleek and straight look.

This is a great look for a night out with the girls or a chic office party.

Get a good dye job

Darker colours usually have more shine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go blonde.  Just remember to go to a good colourist that really knows what they’re doing.

Schedule your snips

Believe it or not, your hair will maintain a better shine if you get it trimmed regularly.  Removing the dead, split ends will give your locks a fresh update – remember to schedule the snip every six weeks or so.

Let your iron repair your hair

Every time you flat iron your hair, remember to use a spray-on conditioner and heat protectant.  This will help your hair have that extra shine.

Eat your veggies

Load up on Swiss chard, spinach and broccoli.  Dark green vegetables are rich in vitamins A and C, which can help your body produce sebum.  Sebum is like a natural conditioner.

Take a cold shower

A hot shower can feel really good, but it can really do a number on your hair.  The heat actually can cause frizz, which will make your hair look dull.  At the end of your shower, try a cool-water rinse to reduce this.

The best defence in protecting yourself against purchasing a fake ghd styler is to only buy your products from official ghd retailers and salons.  Alternatively, you can buy your styler straight from the official ghd website.  If you aren’t sure if the website or salon you are considering is an approved stockist, simply check out the ghd site – they have a tool that allows you to check on the authenticity of a website or salon!

In addition to buying only from a respected and approved retailer, here are some other tips to ensure that your ghd is genuine, or to at least authenticate the one you already have:

• Don’t buy a ghd styler from a “second-hand” or auction site.  It’s just too risky.

• Visit the official ghd website and register your styler right away.  This will activate the two-year warranty.  If you have a fake serial number, it will be rejected by the system.

• Check the box for a CD, instruction booklet, power adapter and serial number.  If your styler doesn’t have these items, it isn’t genuine.

• All ghd stylers have the official ghd hologram on the tag attached to the cord and on the inner body of the straightener.  Serial numbers will always match.

• Every ghd styler has metal hinge pins, not cheap plastic ones.

So, doesn’t it make you feel oh-so-much better when you hear about the rich and famous “perfect” people doing the same thing you do?  Maybe it helps humanise them a little.  The latest to admit one of her shortcomings is Jennifer Aniston.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen: Jennifer Aniston is a clothes hoarder, too!

Recently, the picture-perfect actress, who looks like she loves her ghd styler, admitted to US magazine that she has a closet stuffed with clothing she’s bought but has never worn.  She even lets her friends hit on her wardrobe for a little free shopping!  (Don’t you wish you were Anniston’s BFF now?)

We are practically drooling over the idea of what might be in that closet of hers – with the tags still on!  Lately, she’s been spotted wearing the likes of Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford and Chanel, to name just a few.

While Anniston might have just a little more money to throw away on buying outfits she won’t wear, it can happen to the best of us.  How many times have you bought a new dress but just haven’t had a place to wear it yet?

If you bought your ghd within the last two years from an authorised stockist or salon, then contact ghd directly for a repair.  As long as you haven’t mistreated your styler, they can work with you to get it fixed.  If your warranty has expired, they can still help you out, though you may be charged.

There’s no doubt about it: ghd straighteners are some of the best around.  However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t subject to normal wear and tear.  The cable on a hair straightener has a hard life, so it is important you follow all the safety guidelines and proper care instructions as you use your ghd.

What does that mean?  Basically, don’t abuse your styler!  Don’t wind the cord around the straightener.  Instead, allow it to tell you how it wants to be coiled and do so.  Never bend the cord against its natural angle.  If you do that, you risk having the styler short out or even shock you while in use!

Oh, and though we shouldn’t even have to mention it – never tug on the cable when unplugging it or moving the styler!  If the cord isn’t long enough, use an extension lead!

However, one thing you probably didn’t know is that the platinum blonde wig Williams wore throughout the film in her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe cost a whopping $4,000!  Can you imagine spending that kind of money on a wig?

If you’re a filmmaker, yes you can!  Are you wondering why one might spend so much money on a wig rather than just cut, dye, and style an actress’s hair everyday?  First of all, a wig might be required if her hair just isn’t long enough and extensions just won’t do.  (This happened to be the case during the film’s shoot – Williams had extremely short hair.)

Another reason filmmakers use expensive wigs rather than style the hair everyday is continuity.  It can be hard to maintain a single style throughout a shoot, but it is important.  You don’t want an actress’s’ hair to look one way in a shot and then a little different in the next – it can put the viewer off the film!

On the set of My Week With Marilyn they did actually have to style the wig – it is hair after all.  We’re just wondering if they used a ghd styler to create those waves and curls Ms. Monroe was so well known for.

Whether you are in Worcester or Liverpool, the prices are all pretty much the same.  Typically, ghd stylers range in price from about £99 to £129 depending on the model and size you want.

Before you buy your ghd styler, make sure that you are making the purchase from an approved stockist.  You can easily check if your hairdresser is an approved stockist by using the ghd salon locator on the official website.  If you prefer, you can also order your ghd online.

Remember, fake ghd stylers are almost impossible to differentiate from the real thing.  That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re buying from an authorised website or salon.  If you don’t you could fall victim to a scam, waste your money, and damage your hair.  (If you haven’t caught on, the fake ones aren’t well made!)

Once you’ve received your authentic ghd, you should remember to register it on the official ghd website.  When you register it, you will be able to help ghd confirm that your product is actually authentic and help the company keep you abreast of all the latest developments regarding the ghd range of stylers and hair products.