Few questions come up more often across our 24 Cape Town salons than this one: should I buy a GHD or a Veaudry? We're in an unusual position to answer honestly — our stylists work with GHD in-chair every day, and we stock the full Veaudry range online. We sell both, so we have no horse in this race. Here's the straight comparison.
The short answer
Both are genuinely professional tools — this isn't a premium-vs-budget comparison. GHD is the British icon: one fixed optimum temperature of 185°C, superb build quality, and a price to match. Veaudry is the proudly South African challenger: tourmaline ceramic plates, fully adjustable heat from roughly 110–230°C, and a meaningfully lower price. If you want adjustable temperature control and the best value, choose Veaudry. If you want the classic one-temperature GHD experience and don't mind paying more, try one in-salon first.
Where each brand comes from
GHD ("Good Hair Day") launched in the UK in 2001 and became the straightener most salon clients can name. Veaudry was founded in Cape Town in 2006 by South African hairstylist Michelle Stanton, who brought the first ceramic-tourmaline straightening iron to South Africa — and the brand has been refining that technology for two decades since.
Temperature: fixed 185°C vs adjustable 110–230°C
This is the biggest practical difference. GHD's philosophy is a single optimum styling temperature of 185°C on its stylers — no dials, no decisions, the same heat for everyone. It's simple and it works well for healthy, normal-density hair.
Veaudry takes the opposite view: heat should match the hair. A Veaudry iron adjusts from gentle settings around 110–160°C for fine, bleached or fragile hair, up to 230°C for thick, coarse or resistant hair. For anyone with damaged or colour-treated hair, our stylists consider adjustable temperature the safer option — 185°C is simply more heat than fine hair needs. Not sure where you sit? Read our straightening temperature guide by hair type.
Plate technology
GHD uses ceramic plates with dual-zone heat sensors that keep the temperature even from root to tip. Veaudry uses tourmaline-infused ceramic — the crushed semi-precious stone emits negative ions as it heats, sealing the cuticle, locking in moisture and cutting frizz, so hair finishes glossier with fewer passes. We've broken down exactly what that means in our tourmaline vs ceramic explainer.
Price and guarantee
The Veaudry myStyler sells at Partners Hair for R2,785, with the wide-plate Colossal for thick or long hair at the same price and the travel-size iStyler under R2,000. GHD stylers typically cost significantly more — often one-and-a-half to two times the price of a myStyler, depending on the model. On cover: GHD carries a 2-year manufacturer guarantee; Veaudry carries a 1-year guarantee, backed by our SA-based after-sales support and salon teams.
GHD vs Veaudry at a glance
| GHD | Veaudry | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom, 2001 | Cape Town, South Africa, 2006 |
| Plate technology | Ceramic, dual-zone heat control | Tourmaline ceramic, negative-ion |
| Temperature | Fixed 185°C | Adjustable ±110–230°C |
| Best for | Healthy, normal hair; set-and-forget styling | All hair types — especially fine, coloured, thick or coarse hair needing tailored heat |
| Price at Partners | Higher — current pricing in any of our salons | myStyler & Colossal R2,785; iStyler travel under R2,000 |
| Guarantee | 2 years (manufacturer) | 1 year, with SA-based support |
| Where to buy from us | In-salon only, at all 24 Partners salons | Online and in-salon, free delivery over R390 |
Which should you buy?
Fine, bleached or colour-treated hair: Veaudry — drop the temperature to 160–175°C and protect what you've invested in. Thick, coarse or very long hair: the Veaudry myStyler Colossal's wide plates cover more hair per pass at higher heat. You want one tool for curls and straightening: look at the Veaudry myAirStyler or myCurl system. Our guide to choosing between the myStyler, Colossal and iStyler goes deeper. You've always wanted a GHD: come and test one properly — see below.
Why we only sell GHD in our salons
You won't find GHD on our online store, and that's deliberate. We sell GHD exclusively in-chair, where a stylist can match the right model to your hair, show you the technique on your own head, and hand it over set up correctly. If you're set on a GHD, visit any of our 24 Cape Town salons and try before you buy. If you're buying online, Veaudry is the range we've chosen to stand behind — every unit authentic, from the authorised South African distributor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veaudry as good as GHD?
They're different rather than ranked. With the temperature matched to your hair type, our stylists get comparable finishes from both. Veaudry wins on adjustability, tourmaline shine and price; GHD wins on simplicity and its 2-year guarantee. Neither will disappoint on build quality.
Why is GHD so much more expensive?
Imported UK brand positioning, extensive R&D and global marketing all sit in the price. You're paying for a superb tool and the badge. Veaudry, engineered and priced for South Africa, puts more of your money into the plates.
Can I buy GHD online from Partners Hair?
No — GHD is salon-exclusive with us. Any Partners salon can help you choose and purchase one in person.
Do I need heat protectant with either?
Always, with any hot tool at any temperature. Browse our heat protection range — it's the cheapest insurance your hair will ever get.
Ready to choose? Shop the full Veaudry range online with free delivery over R390, or find your nearest Partners salon to see both brands in action.
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