Good Hair Day
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hair care products |
| Founded | January 2001 |
| Founder | Martin Penny, Gary Douglas, Susan Powls, Robert Powls |
| Headquarters | Leeds , United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide (over 50,000 salons globally) |
| Products | Hair straighteners, hair dryers, curling irons |
| Owner | Coty (majority stake held by KKR) |
| Website | www |
Good Hair Day, commonly known as ghd, is a hair care product manufacturer headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom. The company is primarily recognized for its hair straighteners and has a presence in more than 50,000 salons globally. ghd holds the distinction of being the inaugural hair tool sponsor for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
History
ghd was established in January 2001 by Martin Penny, Gary Douglas, Susan Powls, and Robert Powls. They secured the rights to a hair straightening iron developed by an inventor from South Korea. Initially, the brand expanded through organic growth driven by word of mouth, launching its first marketing campaign two years after inception. By that time, salons had purchased stock worth £12 million, surpassing early expectations.
The brand made its entry into the North American market in May 2004, helping to achieve global sales totaling £37 million that year. In July 2006, The Jemella Group, which owned ghd, was acquired by Lloyds Development Capital for £55 million and then sold eleven months later to Montagu Private Equity for £160 million. In February 2013, British private equity firm Lion Capital LLP acquired ghd for an estimated £300 million.
By March 2013, ghd’s revenue had exceeded £150 million—more than twice the figure recorded in 2007—with over two million styling irons distributed across 50,000 salons worldwide. In 2016, ownership transferred to Coty, who purchased ghd from Lion Capital for approximately £420 million; the transaction was finalized in November 2016.
On December 1, 2020, Coty divested a stake in the brands Wella, Clairol, OPI, and ghd to KKR for $2.5 billion in cash while retaining a 40% interest in the newly independent company. Further transactions between October and November 2021 reduced Coty’s holding to about 25.9%, with KKR maintaining a significant ownership share.
Products
- The V Gold Series Styler was launched by ghd in 2011.
- In 2012, the Air Professional Hairdryer was introduced.
- March 2013 saw the release of the "Eclipse" hair straightener, designed with consistent temperature regulation to shorten styling duration, particularly effective on coarse hair.
- The product line expanded in 2014 with the addition of the Aura Hairdryer and the Curve curling collection.
- The Platinum Styler made its debut in 2015.
- In 2018, ghd unveiled the Platinum Plus styler, featuring improved performance and styling efficiency.
Advertising and sponsorship
- ghd’s inaugural advertising campaign debuted in August 2003 with sponsorship of the British reality television series The Salon.
- The 'Twisted Fairytales' advertisement series aired in November 2009 showcased legendary characters such as Rapunzel and Cinderella.
- The October 2011 "Scarlet Collection" campaign featured singer Katy Perry and was shot by photographer David LaChapelle.
- ghd established a multi-year collaboration with Victoria’s Secret as the first-ever hair tool sponsor of their annual fashion event.
Endorsements
The brand has garnered celebrity endorsements, notably appointing singer Katy Perry as the face of ghd in December 2011.
Charity
Since 2004, ghd has contributed around £2.5 million to the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity through annual limited edition pink hair irons, donating £10 from each unit sold. In January 2010, ghd partnered with "Mom It Forward" and SafeHouse Denver—a shelter supporting women affected by domestic violence—to host an event at Sephora.