Another day, another pioneering ghd launch. In the past few years alone, the haircare giant has gone from strength to strength with its tools - from the ghd Duetwhich went viral thanks to its wet-to-dry straightening prowess to the ghd Duet Blowdry which proved its merit where volume is concerned. And then there was Chronos, the brand’s most amped up straightening iron to date. Until this latest game-changer. Thick, curly or wiry hair? You might want to listen up. The ghd Chronos Max, £299 is officially here.
The ghd Chronos Max At A Glance:
185ºC temperature for optimum styling - any hotter it will damage the hair, any cooler and the style will be compromised.
Styles that last for 24hrs - even on thick, curly hair
Automatic sleep mode - Helping to avoid the 'have I left my straighteners plugged in?!' fear.
Rapid heat styling plates with ultra gloss coating - Provides the smoothest glide to deliver one-stroke styling with up to 90% more shine
Wide plate technology - Ideal for long, thick hair
Shop: The ghd Chronos Max
www.lookfantastic.com
'I always thought it was not possible to improve on perfection, but then I tried ghd Chronos. Having the ability to create such beautiful definition on Curls, Waves and sleeker styles with the added benefit of speed is game changing when working as a professional. Additionally for consumers, you’ll be able to achieve more shape and shine than before…faster or with larger sections!!' - Dafydd Thomas - Global Director of Education
Pros
- Wide plates - ideal for long, curly, or wiry hair
- Optimum heat styling temperature
Cons
- An investment purchase (but worth it, in our opinion!)
What does the ghd Chronos Max do?
The ghd Chronos Max, is a wide plate styler aimed at those with long, thick, and curly hair. It uses ‘HD motion-responsive technology,’ which ensures heat monitoring accuracy to minimise damage. Then there's the aforementioned wide plates, designed to give 'high-definition results effortlessly on long, thick, and curly hair.' Big claims. But does it really work? Here’s our full review.
How we tested it
Rachael Martin, beauty editor:
'I’ve been testing the ghd Chronos Max for a few months now. I'm reluctant to apply heat on my hair so only use this one twice a week to keep my brittle strands as healthy as possible. After spraying my hair with a hefty hit of heat protectant I’ll begin the styling process. I'm loyal to a beachy wave so I'll take a medium sized chunk (light work given the width of the plates) clamp, then pull the wand down in one fluid twisting motion, leaving a small section straight at the end. The smaller the section the tighter the curl, but I find a larger section gives the kind of un-done finish I really like.'
Our verdict
To reiterate, I’m really careful about the levels of heat I use on my hair. I have blonde highlights that are very prone to breakage - if I don’t brush carefully enough then my hair will snap. The fact that the Chronos Max promises no extreme heat damage (thanks to its ability to remain at the optimum styling temperature of 185°C) really appeals to me. The research behind the tool is impressive - ghd claim it ‘delivers up to 90% more shine, reduces frizz by 2.5%, and leaves hair up to 3x straighter in just one stroke, - with no extreme heat damage.’ These are stats that are undeniably reassuring to those with hair similar to my own. While my hair isn’t necessarily thick, I do have a lot of it and it falls beyond my shoulders. I found the width of the plates (85% larger) glided through sizeable sections of my hair with ease while the thinner edges (24%, to be exact) allowed me to get close to my wiry roots and tame my halo of frizz. It’s fair to say I did see an improvement in the look of my hair once I’d styled it - I think this is due to the longevity of the style. My hair really holds when styled with the Chronos Max meaning I don’t have to overstyle - I typically get 2 days of curls before I consider a refresh.
Final thoughts
'I predict this tool will become must for those with thick, curly or wiry hair - it literally does all the hard work for you. Not only is it a joy to use (simply clamp down and slide through) but it also leaves my hair looking considerably more shiny - sans flyaways. Is it expensive? Absolutely. But at this point ghd are renowned for products that stand the test of time. The straighteners from your school days? Chances are you still have them. But consider this the perfect excuse to upgrade - your hair will thank you.'
Rachael Martin is Grazia’s Beauty Editor where she covers all things beauty, health and wellness.
