I’ve tried every ghd. Is Chronos the best ever? (2024)

It’s 23 years since the ghd straightener first arrived in the UK and, at the risk of sounding my age, I’ve known and loved every single one. The iconic original styling iron instantly smoothed its way into my affections back in 2001, transforming my rough and unready hair into something sleek, shiny and poker straight. I could have been the 4th member of Atomic Kitten, basically.

Since then I’ve tried every single iteration of the straightener, from bougie limited editions to my lazy day favourite, the jumbo-plated Max (officially designed for thick hair, but also, I find, an excellent time-saver and corner cutter for the fine-haired girl who wedges in huge chunks at a time. Don’t judge.) The only model that’s ever left me feeling disappointed was 2018’s platinum+, and that’s because, at the launch, the brand predicted it wouldn’t be bettered for many, many years, if ever.

I’ve tried every ghd. Is Chronos the best ever? (1)

ghd Chronos was used at Victoria Beckham AW24 to create a silky finish

But now, says ghd, that happy day has arrived, in the form of Chronos. “It’s the best styler that we've ever made,” says Dr Rob Milner, ghd’s chief technical officer. “It’s been like making a racing car. We weigh up every single component to optimise it, and this is where we've landed.: three times faster styling, two times less frizz and 85% more shine, all still minimising breakage caused by cellular damage in the hair.”

Chronos has already won the endorsement of Victoria Beckham, a woman who knows a thing or two about shiny hair. The new ghd was the backstage star of the Victoria Beckham AW24 catwalk in Paris, where it was used to create styles with what the show’s lead hairdresser Anthony Turner called a ‘silk finish’ texture.

However, as well as being the ‘best’ ever ghd straightening iron, it’s also the most expensive. At £289, it’s an extra £50 on top of the previous premium model, the aforementioned platinum+. As a long-term ghd superfan, here’s my verdict on how it performs.

What’s new about ghd Chronos?

The big news is what ghd calls “HD motion-responsive technology”, which monitors and reacts to each stroke you make, enabling Chronos to respond to real life styling faster than any other ghd to date. “Our algorithms work out how you're using the styler, and deliver exactly the right amount of heat as a result,” says Dr. Milner. As a result, Chronos stays at near-constant 185C, the temperature found by ghd to be the “sweet spot” between results and minimal damage.

I’ve tried every ghd. Is Chronos the best ever? (2)

The new styler promises to give the shiniest finish yet

“Some competitor products lose heat as they go through the hair, and they can't get back up to the right styling temperature,” he adds. “That leads people to crank up the temperature further. With Chronos, we're adapting the power and heat being delivered into the hair but without pushing the temperature higher.”

In terms of real-life pay-off, this technology translates into “one stroke high-definition results that last 24 hours”, according to ghd’s trials. Chronos styles hair at triple the speed of the original ghd, and leaves it 10% shinier than even the platinum+.

Our verdict

Chronos is thrillingly new but reassuringly familiar, all at the same time. The curves have been slightly refined and the switch-on chime is a little different: softer, more melodic. It’s like seeing your best-looking friend after they’ve visited an expensive, ultra-discreet aesthetician.

Straightening is effortless, the plates skimming through my hair like silk, not a hint of a jugger, stutter or snag, even on the heat-damaged ends. Actually, what heat damage? After a single pass, they look polished and healthy. (Yes, I know this styler limits, rather than avoids, heat stress, but the overall look is extremely flattering on frayed ends.) Also ticking points on the damage limitation front, I hardly needed to go over any areas twice, and it stayed sleek all day.

I’ve tried every ghd. Is Chronos the best ever? (3)

Lynne before and after straightening her hair with the new ghd

I also use ghd irons to curl my hair, usually as a day two or three style, and the new Chronos excelled at this, too. The glide was impressive, and each curl emerged from the plates looking shiny and perfectly defined.

I’ve tried every ghd. Is Chronos the best ever? (4)

Lynne with Chronos curls, before and after brushing through

I prefer to wear a ghd curl as a softer, looser look, and the Chronos version brushed out beautifully. It’s the nearest I’ve ever managed to a bouncy Kate Middleton effect with irons, and my fine hair honestly appeared to have tripled in volume. Even on a day with drizzle hanging heavy in the air, my curls held pretty well, and I’ve no doubt they would last even better on a dry day.

Overall, Chronos is a brilliant little styler in my view. Chic, quick, and simple to use, it’s outstanding as both a straightener and a waver. The shine is particularly noteworthy, as is the ‘only one pass needed’ ease. To be fair, the platinum+ is excellent too, and I don’t know, hand on heart, if I’d notice fifty quid’s worth of difference in terms of actual visible results. But if I had a free choice between the two, then yes, I’d go for the newbie. It’s hard to disagree that Chronos really IS the best ghd ever. Until the next one, of course...

You can shop the GHD Chronos, below.

I’ve tried every ghd. Is Chronos the best ever? (2024)
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