The GHD Mini is the small-but-mighty member of the range — narrow plates built for short hair, fringes, precision styling and getting close to the root, plus it's a favourite for travel and for men's styling. When it works it's brilliant at jobs the wider straighteners can't do neatly; when it stops, there's no obvious substitute for those narrow plates. The good news: the Mini is repairable, most faults are a single inexpensive part, and a repair costs far less than replacing it. Here's what typically goes wrong and how it's fixed.
I've been repairing electronics for over 25 years — here's the practical guide for the Mini.
First — confirming it's a Mini
The straightener this page covers is the GHD Mini, model number S7N151 — the newer "Model S" generation, with a sliding on/off switch and distinctively narrow plates. The model number is on the label inside the arm.
Where it sits in the range:
The Mini is the narrow-plate sibling of the Gold (S7N261) and the wide-plate Max (S7N421) — the three share the same family and, usefully, the same mains cable. Much of my GHD Gold repair guide applies to the Mini too.
Being a sliding-switch model, it's repairable.
If you're not sure which model you've got, how to find your GHD model number will confirm it.
The most common GHD Mini faults
Won't heat up
The most common Mini fault is the familiar one — powers on with the usual lights and beep, but the plates stay cold. This is typically a thermal fuse or heater element issue; see my guide to GHDs that won't heat up. Being part of the newer Model S family, the Mini uses the same style of parts as the Gold and Max rather than the older Mk4/Mk5 components, so the correct model-specific part matters.
Cutting out or only working when you hold the cable
The Mini's mains cable can fail where it flexes near the iron, causing intermittent power. It's a common, inexpensive fix (see GHD cable faults) — and because it shares its cable with the Gold and Max, it's a well-understood replacement.
Completely dead
No lights at all points to a power fault — cable, plug fuse or internal fuse. Check the free things first (GHD won't turn on) before it comes in.
One plate cold, or narrow-plate heating issues
One plate heating while the other stays cold is usually a failed heater element. Worth a note specific to the Mini: because the plates are narrow, they use smaller elements than a standard straightener, so the correct narrow-plate part is essential for even heating along the plate.
What a GHD Mini repair costs
The Mini sits in my higher pricing tier, alongside the Gold, Max and Platinum+: a flat £39 all-in. That covers the part, labour, return postage and a full PAT safety test — no hidden charges. Every repair is backed by my no-fix-no-fee promise — if I can't fix it, you don't pay for the repair — and a 12-month warranty against the same fault returning.
How the repair works
Send your Mini in and I'll diagnose the actual fault properly — testing the cable, fuse, elements, sensor and board as needed — and fit the correct narrow-plate, Mini-specific parts rather than generic substitutes. The straighteners are then heat-tested to confirm both plates reach the right temperature, and PAT safety-tested before they come back. I do the work myself, in-house, from start to finish.
Is it worth repairing a GHD Mini?
Yes — and the Mini is a particularly worthwhile one to fix, because its narrow plates make it genuinely hard to replace like-for-like if you rely on it for fringes, short hair or precision work. It's a premium straightener, and the vast majority of faults are a single inexpensive component on an otherwise excellent pair. £39 to restore it — with no risk thanks to the no-fix-no-fee promise — is a clear win against buying new, and keeps a specialist little tool in use.
If your GHD Mini has stopped working, you can book a GHD Mini repair for £39 all in — I'll send simple instructions for posting your straighteners in, confirm the exact fault when they arrive, and get them back to you working as they should.
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.
