What’s the Difference Between GHD and Cloud Nine?

If you’re looking to purchase a new styling tool, it’s highly likely you’ll be asking yourself, ‘What’s the difference between Cloud Nine and ghd?’

We’d love to make things easier for you. That’s why we’re giving you all the key info you need to decide between these two popular brands.

Both Cloud Nine and ghd stylers are of salon quality. Each has its own benefits worth noting before you make a buying decision.

Knowing your hair type and preferences should help make your choice clearer. So, before you invest in one of these pro tools, let us explain how they can help you achieve your best hair yet.

The Backstory

Hair product manufacturer ghd took off in 2001, when the brand brought its original hair straightener design from Korea to the UK. Ghd, which unsurprisingly stands for ‘Good Hair Day’, quickly became a household name. Its straighteners quickly saturated the market, now selling in more than 50,000 salons worldwide. Beyond its global influence and reach, ghd is known for its constant research, development, and innovation.

Cloud Nine was founded by Robet Powls, one of the original founders of ghd, in 2009. The brand’s premium straighteners, which are also produced in Korea, stormed the market with a new approach to hairstyling and temperature-control irons. Since then, Cloud Nine has continuously released elegant, high-quality tools that have revolutionised the hairstyling game.

Clearly, there’s a connection between these two breeds of hair stylers. We’ll break down the differences for you.

How Hot Do They Get?

Ghd stylers are heat controlled to between 175°C and 185°C, which is proven to be the optimal temperature setting for these stylers to operate effectively. Ghd stylers easily distribute heat with help from aluminium plates covered with a thin layer of ceramic. This construction makes ghd hot irons perfect for thin and fine hair, which damages easily. Ghd stylers reach their highest temperature in 30 to 40 seconds. The hibernation mode makes them a safe and effortless option.

Cloud Nine stylers have adjustable heat settings, allowing you to vary the temperature of your styler between 100°C and 200°C, with 7 different options. Cloud Nine also employs mineral-coated ceramic plates, as opposed to titanium, to leave hair soft and conditioned after styling. Cloud Nine straighteners take only 20 seconds to heat up. Their MiCOM (MicroComputer) heating system can adjust the temperature according to their thermal sensors calculation. These settings keep the styler from causing hair damage and breakage.

Style, Shape, and Design

This may not be a huge factor for some people, but for many of us, the look and feel of a straightener can be a deciding factor. While both brands carry limited-edition stylers with different designs, their classic stylers have a distinctive look.

Ghd straighteners are easily recognised by their copper-coloured iron plates and sleek, black design. Cloud Nine stylers have a matte black body and plates, along with a similarly sleek design. Both stylers are generally a similar weight across their range. However, Cloud Nine products are easier to transport and more travel-friendly.

What Are the Best Straighteners in Their Range?

Ghd offers a range of hair stylers designed to handle different hair lengths and types. Still, it’s fair to wonder: what are the best in the range? Most popular are the ghd original professional styler, the ghd gold professional hair styler, and the ghd platinum+ black hair styler. For long, thick hair, ghd has created the ghd gold max styler, along with the ghd gold mini styler for short hair and fringes. Ghd also offers a variety of curlers, hot brushes, and dryers.

Cloud Nine offers a curated selection of hot tools designed to keep the stylist in control. This range includes the CLOUD NINE Original Iron, as well as the innovative Cloud Nine Touch Iron. The brand’s options for thick and thin hair—the CLOUD NINE The Wide Iron and CLOUD NINE Micro Iron, respectively—are also popular choices. Cloud Nine is also known for its groundbreaking instant-heat roller system, CLOUD NINE The O Heated Roller Set, as well as its other curlers and dryers.

How Much Do They Cost?

If you’re choosing between a ghd straightener and a Cloud Nine straightener, know that there’s a significant difference in their starting prices. The ghd original professional hair styler starts at $195, whereas the Original Cloud Nine C9 Iron - Hair Straightener and Iron costs $340.

However, if you’re interested in ghd’s platinum+ range, you won’t see much of a difference in pricing between the two brands. Generally, ghd offers more affordable options, excluding its range of curlers, which price the same as Cloud Nine’s curlers.

In terms of warranties, ghd offers a 2-year warranty on your purchase, whereas Cloud Nine stylers come with a 3-year warranty.

So, What’s Better: Cloud Nine or ghd?

Ultimately, you have to decide what’s going to be the best styling tool for you. Choosing between Cloud Nine and ghd comes down to your hair type, your hair needs and concerns, and your hairstyle. If you prefer to style your hair on a lower or higher temperature, you may want the option to vary your heat settings with a Cloud Nine. On the other hand, if you’re looking for consistent temperature control that you don’t have to think about, a ghd might be a good option for you.

While ghd’s range comes at a lower price point, the Cloud Nine range offers advanced technology in its curated range and includes a longer warranty period, which you may want to invest in. Whichever way you go, both brands carry flat irons, waving wands, curling wands, hairdryers and micro irons for shorter hair and fringes.

So, once you make your purchase, enjoy your styler and make it last! Look into our tips for straightener maintenance and our how-to guide on curling your hair with a ghd straightener. These articles will help you make the most of your straighteners and stylers!