On the straight and narrow

YOU can straighten your hair in style in Warrington.
 
Warrington trading standards has recently carried out a project to check that GHD hair straighteners sold from salons across Warrington are genuine – and they are all on the straight and narrow.
 
Trading standards has a responsibility to ensure that branded goods for sale are the genuine article. With reports coming in from neighbouring councils of counterfeit GHD hair straighteners being sold, sometimes unwittingly, by salons, Warrington took the precautionary measure of visiting crimpers across the town to check that they were selling the real deal.
 
All of the salons visited in Warrington were selling authentic GHD products, they were co -operative and eager to learn the differences between the fake and genuine items.
 
But would you know the difference between counterfeit and genuine goods?
 
Some pointers to watch out for on the new Mark IV GHD Irons are:
 
• GHD Irons are made in Korea, if they say they are made in China then they are counterfeit.
 
• Boxes are sealed using a glue that cures over 24 hours, if the seal can be pulled away from the box without tearing it then this indicates a counterfeit product.
 
• A genuine GHD cable is made by TA HSING.
 
There are further differences between the real and fake Irons but if consumer’s suspicions are aroused by any of the above and they would like further advice contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
 

Cllr Roy Smith, Executive Board member for community services, says: “Anyone who is tempted to buy straighteners as a Christmas present is advised to buy from a reputable source.

“If anyone is concerned about straighteners, especially those that seem particularly cheap should remember that they may not be getting the bargain they hoped for.  Risks involved with buying counterfeit irons may include that they don’t heat up enough to straighten the hair, or they heat up too much and create a fire risk.”
 
Trading standards was alerted to possible problems after someone who has purchased a set of GHD’s on the internet was unable to get a repair as they were counterfeit.

Ends

Issued by:  Joanna Driscoll, Principal Communications Officer
Date:   Tuesday 11 December, 2007
Release: Immediate