Review ghd hair straightener – My test of the new ghd Chronos Max

Since early February, the ghd Chronos Max Styler has been on the market, and it promises big things – especially for anyone with curly and/or thick hair! While slim straighteners have long been able to turn fine hair into sleek, shiny strands with ease, they quickly reach their limits when faced with voluminous curls.

Not so the ghd Chronos Max: Thanks to its extra-wide plates, it ensures that even full, strong curls can be straightened and styled effectively. My review ghd hair straightener shows that this tool was specifically developed for this hair type. I’ve tested the new styler over the past few weeks and will share here what impressed me most.

A quick note upfront: My hair isn’t curly, but more on the wavy side – especially on bad hair days. With a blow dryer and round brush, I can get it somewhat smooth, but with styling tools I often struggle because of my thick hair. My current straightener has been with me for eight years already and I only use it occasionally for soft beach waves. So you can imagine my excitement when I first held the new ghd Chronos Max Styler in my hands.

Compared to my old straightener, the Chronos Max feels slightly heavier, but also incredibly well made. The matte finish and slim, ergonomic end fit comfortably in the hand. The unboxing was kept simple – the styler comes with a silicone heat cap and a user manual.

I’m not a big fan of manuals, so I usually do a quick “dummy test” with new devices – after all, how complicated can a straightener be? So I plugged in the ghd Chronos Max and pressed the on-button. After just one minute, a soft bling sound signaled that it was heated up and ready to use.

There’s no heat regulator, which surprised me at first. I normally use my tools on low to medium heat settings, so I wanted to check whether the temperature could be adjusted. A quick look at the manual revealed: the temperature is fixed.

What I did like was the cord length, which I find perfect. In my bathroom, the socket isn’t directly next to the mirror, so a longer cord is definitely a plus.

The new Chronos Max by ghd offers 85% larger styling plates (compared to the ghd Gold) and was developed especially for long, thick, and curly hair. According to the manufacturer, the styling results should last up to 24 hours. A consumer test with 112 participants showed that 82% agreed.

One particular highlight is the HD Motion-Responsive Technology, equipped with a twice as responsive algorithm (compared to the ghd platinum+). It recognizes your styling movements in real time and automatically adjusts the heat and power supply of the plates to maintain the optimal styling temperature of 185 °C.

According to lab tests, thanks to its perfect heat consistency the Chronos Max delivers:

• up to 90% more shine
• 2.5x less frizz (tested on brunette hair)

Other technical details:

• Plate material: Ceramic
• Plate temperature: 185 °C
• Heat-up time: approx. 35 seconds

You can find all product details directly on the official ghd product page.

Styling with the ghd Chronos Max Styler only takes me a few minutes – perfect for busy mornings before work. I don’t have time to carefully section my hair and straighten strand by strand. This is where the big advantage of the Chronos Max comes in: thanks to its wide plates and high heat, I can smooth several layers at once and still achieve a clean, polished result.

When I do have a bit more time, I treat my hair to a complete styling routine.

Step 1: Apply heat protection

The most important step when styling with heat is always heat protection. There are many great products out there – I personally use the ghd Prep Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray (suitable for all hair types). It can be applied to both wet and dry hair and, in my opinion, smells absolutely fantastic!

Step 2: Brush and section hair

For an even result, I brush my hair thoroughly so the heat protection spreads well. Then I section it loosely with a clip. Especially when styling curls or very full hair, this step is essential.

Step 3: Styling

Now the fun part! The Chronos Max Styler feels comfortable in the hand and, thanks to its rounded housing, it’s not only great for straightening but also for creating different curly styles. This time, I went for a sleek, straight look. If you’d like to try beach waves or voluminous curls, you can find tutorials directly on the ghd product page.

I straighten my hair section by section until I reach the top layers. It takes me about 5–7 minutes. If your hair is longer or curlier, plan a bit more time.

Step 4: Comb through and finish

Once straightened or curled, you can lightly brush through your hair for a natural look. For extra shine, I like to use a hair oil or the ghd Finisher Shiny Ever After Spray. Curls can be fixed with hairspray – and voilà, your ghd Chronos Max styling is done!

With this routine, my hair stays straight for up to two days – without needing to re-straighten. Even my baby hairs at the roots stay in place for at least 24 hours.

For my wavy hair structure, the ghd Chronos Max is almost too powerful. The wide plates feel a bit bulky for me – especially when I want to create curls, I prefer a slimmer straightener. At first, the non-adjustable heat setting felt unusual. But in hindsight, that’s exactly what makes the product so effective: with a constant, optimal temperature, it delivers impressive results.

I can definitely imagine that the Chronos Max is ideal for people with thick, curly hair. The wide plates ensure that even voluminous hair can be straightened quickly, and thanks to the rounded housing, it’s also possible to style beautiful waves and curls.

My conclusion: Compared to other ghd straighteners, I would especially recommend this model to those with long, thick, or curly hair. If you’re looking for exactly that kind of solution, you won’t regret buying it!