Counterfeit GHD hair straighteners and CHI flat iron guide
Counterfeit GHD guide
There are countless websites selling fake GHD's on the internet. If you are unsure whether they are genuine or not then it is best avoiding the website.
E-bay is littered with them so it is best avoiding Ebay also. If you would like us to tell you whether a pair you are looking at is likely to be fake or not then please contact us.
We have however composed a small guide to the right which helps you determine whether a pair are genuine or not. Unfortunately it is very difficult to tell unless you see the GHD's and in most instances you will not be able to see them as you are buying online.
If you are buying from a website online then please look at the buying tips which can help you decide whether it is worth the risk. Remember that in most instances you will not be able to get your money back if you purchase a counterfeit pair.
Counterfeit GHD guide
The following guide provides information regarding counterfeit GHD hair straighteners. It is recommended only as a guide and due diligence should be taken on the buyer's behalf when looking at purchasing a pair.
Body Screws
Below shows the screws that are underneath the plastic GHD caps. The genuine pair is on the left and the fake pair on the right. Note the genuine GHD's use two phillip's screws, one which is a bolt. The fake GHD's in 99% of the instances use the combination seen below right. It is a small phillip's screw on one side and on the other just a flat almost square bolt. We have in one instance seen a phillip's screw on each side however they have been notably smaller than the genuine screws. This is a very good sign though if you are able to look at the screws.
Internal Circuitry
Again, if you can take apart the GHD's you can see the difference between the internal electrics. The genuine pair is the black top pair. The fake pair has considerably less circuitry, missing a circuit board on the top of the arm. Most fake pairs do not have a top circuit board however on occasions some do. The wiring is also a different colour. Both pair's are the mk4 version of GHD's. The fake circuit boards are normally soldered whereas the genuine pair use screws to mount connections.
Power cable
The power cable on counterfeit GHD's can vary however in most instances they have similar attributes. Counterfeit GHD's in most instances have a much thicker power cord which is circular in shape as opposed to the genuine cable which is more oval. The genuine cable is also a lot thinner and more flexible. The counterfeit GHD's have a cable which is not as flexible and also the top part of the cable and the internal pin is different in size and make up. The picture below shows a genuine cable from a mk4 GHD iron on the left. The counterfeit GHD cable is on the right. If your cable has a hook on the end like the pink one below then they are not genuine.
Cable Hologram Label
Although the hologram label on the cable is copied quite well, there are still differences to look for. For starters you should verify the serial code on the label at the GHD website. This will help confirm whether they are genuine or not. One tell tale sign shown below is the different font used on the label. If you look at the image below you can clearly see that the 'warning' title in red ink is different. The genuine label is on the right and the counterfeit on the left. The counterfeit font is much bolder. It is also a lighter colour red. There will always be small differences such as this however you need to look carefully.
These are just a few examples of differences between counterfeit GHD's and genuine GHD's. We will continue to update this section so please check back for further updates. It is understandably difficult for the untrained eye to spot the difference however we can tell just by looking at the irons. We can even determine from pictures therefore please contact us should you wish us to help you determine whether you have a counterfeit pair.
The following is advice regarding purchasing GHD hair straighteners off of the internet:
• Ideally purchase from the official GHD website or an approved stockist. Approved stockists will have a symbol on their webpage showing that they are approved.
• Avoid buying off of Ebay and Amazon marketplace. 90% of counterfeit GHD's originate on these auction sites because there are no strict rules to prevent fraudulent sellers exploiting the site. If you do purchase from one of the above then ask for the contact details of the seller beforehand and also check their feedback thoroughly.
• Avoid websites that sell GHD's among other well known counterfeit items such as designer bags, clothing and footwear. If a website sells Nike trainers, designer handbags, UGG boots and also GHD's then be cautious. Use your common sense.
Counterfeit CHI guide
Making sure you bought an authentic Chi iron
Fake VS Real
Plug
In most cases, authentic Chi irons will have a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) with a reset button on the plug. This is the easiest way to tell if your iron is fake or real. The exceptions to this is the Chi Digital Nano 1.25", CHI Mini 1" and the CHI Volumizing Iron which do not have a GFCI with the reset button, but come with a UL-Certified power cord instead.
It is important that you purchase an authentic CHI with either the GFCI plug or UL-Certified power cord because these are the only cords approved for use by CHI, and as such have far better safety features compared to generic and counterfeit irons.
Here's a simple thought: you may save a few dollars buying a counterfeit iron instead of an authentic one, but how much would it cost if something were to happen to the power cord? The cheap, generic power cords found on counterfeit irons may catch on fire and cause thousands of dollars in damage, or could also pose an electrocution risk - you could easily be injured or killed by a faulty power cord. It simply isn't worth it - there is no substitute for an authentic iron.
Tag/Label
Another common way to tell if your CHI is a fake is by the label. Again, in most cases, authentic CHI irons will have all caution/warning labels and any iron information engraved into the iron. Any Chi iron that has a sticker with the iron information on it is more than likely a fake. All Chi original irons will never have any sticker on the iron unless it is a fake. With the exception of the CHI Nano irons which will have a clear sticker with warning and iron information.
Switch and LED
CHI Original 1" irons will have an LED light next to the on/off switch. When the iron is in the off position, the LED will be clear. If you have a Fake CHI Original, the LED when in the off position will stay red.
Also note in the following photo - the fake iron does not have the proper labeling, and there is no engraving next to the power switch.
Logo and Other Fake Characteristics
CHI takes pride in the way their irons look. A fake CHI iron may have an offset logo, where the letters "CHI" will appear in the wrong position. An authentic CHI iron will have the logo printed directly in the center of the round plastic cap of the handle. Manufacturers of counterfeit irons often have sub-par manufacturing equipment which results in inconsistent quality
In the following photo, we can see that the counterfeit iron on the left is poorly made - in this case the counterfeit manufacturer simply decided to forgo the floating plates on the iron; they simply attached it with cheap household screws. One of the great features of an authentic CHI iron is that it has "floating" plates, which are far superior because they do not snag hair and they are also able to distribute heat more evenly whilst ironing.
By following this guide, you should now be able to tell whether an iron is counterfeit or authentic. Remember, CHI irons are often imitated but never duplicated - there is simply no substitute for the real deal!