Good Hair Day

Martin Penny, Gary Douglas, Susan Powls and Robert Powls founded ghd in January 2001.[7][8] The three collaborated to buy the rights to a hair straightening iron from an inventor in South Korea.[9] The brand quickly took off organically, and the company did not even begin advertising until two years after its launch.[10][11] By then, hair salons and word of mouth carried ghd to £12 million, against a forecast of between £3 million and £4 million.[9]

In May 2004, ghd entered the market in North America, bringing its total worldwide sales generating £37 million in revenue.[12] The Jemella Group, which owned the ghd brand, was bought by Lloyds Development Capital for £55 million in July 2006.[7] It was sold eleven months later to Montagu Private Equity for £160 million.[13] Lion Capital, a British private equity firm, purchased ghd in February 2013 for approximately £300 million.[14]

By March 2013, the company had sales of over £150 million, more than doubling since 2007, selling over two million styling irons through 50,000 salons worldwide.[4] In October 2016, Coty announced that it would be buying ghd for about £420 million from the private equity firm Lion Capital LLP.[15] The sale was completed on 21 November 2016.[16]

ghd launched its first advertising campaign in August 2003, as the sponsor of the British reality television show The Salon.[20] The company has also featured prominently on Australia's Next Top Model.[21] In November 2009, ghd ran a popular series of advertisements titled 'Twisted Fairytales', including depictions of characters such as Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella with the tagline "You can do anything with your hair".[22][23] Singer Katy Perry was named the face of ghd in December 2011.[24][25]

In October 2011, ghd launched the "Scarlet Collection" with Perry as the face of the campaign, and photos shot by renowned photographer David LaChapelle.[26] ghd has partnered with Victoria's Secret for a multi year sponsorship of its annual fashion show.[27] The company is the first ever hair tool sponsor for a Victoria's Secret fashion show.[5]

Since 2004, ghd has raised approximately £2.5 million for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity.[28] The company produces a limited edition pink hair iron every year, with £10 of the sale price being donated in support the charity.[29] In January 2010, ghd partnered with charity "Mom It Forward" and SafeHouse Denver, a women's shelter that serves victims of domestic violence and their children, in an event at Sephora.[30]

• Official website