You know the routine: your GHDs work, then they don't, then they do again if you jiggle the wire or hold it at just the right angle. Maybe they cut out mid-style, or only stay on if the cable's bent a certain way. It's annoying, it feels a bit random — and it's also one of the most common GHD faults there is, with a simple and inexpensive fix.
I've been repairing electronics for over 25 years, and this "only works if I hold the cable right" symptom is a classic. Here's what's actually going on, and how it's put right.
What's causing it: a worn cable
Almost every time, this fault comes down to the mains cable failing where it enters the straighteners — right at the point where the flex meets the body of the iron, by the hinge.
Here's why that spot in particular. Every time you use your GHDs, that section of cable flexes and bends as you move them around and wrap them up afterwards. Over months and years, all that repeated bending fatigues the thin wires inside the cable until they start to break — not the outer covering you can see, but the copper strands hidden inside. Once some of those internal wires are broken, the connection only works when the cable happens to be held at an angle that pushes the broken ends back together. Move it, and the connection breaks again.
That's exactly why the fault feels so random: cut out, jiggle, works, move, cuts out. The straighteners themselves are usually completely fine — it's just that the cable can no longer carry power reliably.
Signs it's the cable (and not something else)
You're very likely looking at a cable fault if:
The straighteners cut in and out during use.
They only work when you hold or bend the cable a certain way.
Wiggling the wire near where it enters the iron makes them flicker on and off.
They sometimes work perfectly, then drop out for no obvious reason.
If instead your GHDs power on normally but simply never get hot at all — no flickering, no cable-dependence — that's a different fault (usually a thermal fuse), which I've covered in my guide to GHDs that won't heat up.
Please don't keep using them like this
A quick word of caution, because it matters. It's tempting to carry on using straighteners that "still work if you hold the wire right" — but a cable with broken internal wires is a genuine electrical risk. Damaged flex can arc, overheat, or short, and these are mains-powered devices running at over 180°C. If your GHDs only work when the cable's held a certain way, it's worth stopping and getting the cable replaced rather than nursing them along.
How the repair works
Replacing a GHD cable is a straightforward, inexpensive job — it's one of the simpler repairs I do. The worn cable comes off, a new one goes on, and your straighteners are back to working reliably from any angle, with no more jiggling.
As with all my repairs, it's a flat £29 all-in for standard models (£39 for Gold, Max and Platinum+), covering the part, labour, return postage and a full safety test — and every repair is PAT safety-tested before it comes back, which matters especially with a cable fault. It's backed by my no-fix-no-fee promise and a 12-month warranty.
One thing worth mentioning: replacement cables are supplied in black. If your original was a coloured cable (some older models came in pink or purple), the working replacement will be black — a small trade-off for a safe, reliable fix.
A note on the unrepairable models
Even the round-button Eclipse and Platinum (S8T261) straighteners — which can't be repaired internally — can usually still have their mains cable replaced, since the cable is external to the sealed electronics. So if your fault is specifically the cable, there may be a fix even for those models. It's the one repair that applies right across the range.
If your GHDs are cutting out or only working when you hold the cable, you can book a power and cable repair here — I'll send simple instructions for posting them in, and have them back to you working reliably. You can also see all the GHD repairs I offer if you're not sure which fault yours is.
The Repair Works is an independent UK repair service, run by me, Paul — 25 years of hands-on repair experience, working by post for customers across the whole country. Not affiliated with or endorsed by GHD.
