The Secret to Bouncy, Glossy Curls That Actually Last? I Tried ghd's New Chronos Curling Wand
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
For the better part of a decade, I’ve been bewedded to straighteners. Not in a passing fling sort of way, it's been a full-blown, monogamous commitment. The kind of dedication that's seen me build an extensive hair routine purely revolving around this wide-plated beauty. The co-dependency is real.
But, to be fair, there is context..
My hair is naturally wavy, frizz-prone and always (always!) unpredictable. Straighteners have felt like a tool to bring back some of that control and manageability. The catch? With years of repeat use, comes locks that veer heavily on the damaged side.
Until recently, the idea of reaching for a hot tool (much less one that wasn't a straightener) felt like asking for trouble.
An at-home keratin treatment later (review incoming soon!) has shifted the texture of my hair just enough to make it more manageable (and less frizzy). So, for the first time in years, I felt tempted to try something other than poker-straight hair.
Enter: the ghd Chronos Curve Max Curling Wand and ghd rehab damaged hair repair - a duo promising healthy shine, bounce and voluminous hold.
Here’s everything I learned about the wand, the treatment and what finally gave me those sought-after glossy curls.
ghd Chronos Curve Max Curling Wand.
Fast Facts:
- Creates soft waves, loose curls and gentle bends
- Wide 38mm barrel (Anodized coating for maximum shine)
- Curls in just 3-5 seconds (Heats up in 50 seconds)
- Curl-Responsive technology monitors and adapts for ideal heat and styling control
- Integrated safety stand and automatic sleep mode after 20 minutes of inactivity
- Protective glove included
Despite my curl-aversion, I have tested quite a few curling irons in my day. And honestly? Most of them never delivered the bouncy, wearable finish I’d get from a salon visit.
Either the curls would fall flat (some within an hour) or I’d be left with overly set, crunchy waves. Not something I wanted to leave the house with. The ghd Chronos Curve range, though, has managed to change that.
What makes it different is the Curl-Responsive Technology; a clever bit of heat-sensing engineering that monitors your styling movements and keeps the barrel at an optimal 185ºC. That micro-adjustment is key. It means the wand adapts in real time, keeping heat consistent across every section for faster, more uniform curls that stay. No overheating and absolutely(!) no frazzled ends.
The anodized coating lends a reflective shine that mimics a professional blowdry, and it really does heat up in under a minute (50 seconds, if we’re being exact). Each curl formed in just 3 to 5 seconds - a godsend for anyone who (like me) has a lot of hair and not a lot of patience.
There's also the little thoughtful touches: a protective heat glove, an integrated safety stand and an automatic shut-off mode after 20 minutes. If you've ever had a “did I turn it off?” moment - well, same. ghd has you covered.
The new range boasts 4 curling wand iterations: Max, Conical, Classic and Grand.
Given the length of my hair, I opted for the Max - which is a longer and thicker barrel (38mm), making it a gamechanger for lengthier strands (medium to long). It's creates elongated loose waves and bombshell level volume.
Here's what the other ghd Chronos Curling Wands are best for:
Conical - a unique tapered barrel that can create natural-looking curls or waves, for a beautiful beachy effect.
Classic - whether Hollywood glamour or old money, the classic's versatile shape (smaller than the max) allows for tighter curls or vintage-style waves.
Grand - slightly smaller than Max, great for layering in shape and bounce.
The first time I used it, I got glossy, full-bodied waves that held their shape well into the next day - even after sleeping on them. It took around 10 minutes to style my entire head, and I didn’t have to go back over anything. On thicker sections, it gave that brushed-out, '90s volume, and on finer pieces, it added the kind of movement that makes your hair look naturally fuller, without stiffness.
What surprised me most wasn’t just the shine (up to 50% more shine, according to ghd), or even the curl longevity (up to 24 hours), it was how effortless it made the whole process feel. No sacrificing the health of my hair to get definition. And considering it styled my hair in about a third of the time I’m used to, I'm fully converted.
How to use: ghd Chronos Curve Curling Wand
- Section hair into four quadrants.
- Take a 2-inch diagonal back section, and place the wand parallel to hair, with the nose pointing down.
- Flat wrap hair around the barrel twice, and glide towards and away from the head for 3-5 seconds.
- Release the curl and continue around your hair, always alternating the direction of each curl.
ghd Rehab Damaged Hair Repair.
Fast Facts:
- Repairs and strengthens damaged hair
- Reduces breakage by up to 99%²
- Smooths the cuticle for instant softness and shine
- Heat-activated formula for maximum results
Remember the dire, fried and damaged ends I mentioned earlier? While the Chronos wand is impressively gentle - that smart heat tech really does minimise damage - my hair still needed a bit of extra TLC. So, I enlisted the new ghd Rehab range. I'm dubbing it the ultimate precursor to heat styling.
The heat-activated, leave-in treatments are designed to work with your hot tools, not against them. You mist it onto towel-dried hair, then activate it with your dryer or styling tool; no rinsing, waiting or extra steps. Just apply, dry, style. That’s it.
The formula smooths the cuticle, helps fill in surface-level damage, and claims to reduce breakage by up to 99%. After a few uses, my ends felt softer and less wirey or straw-like.
I opted for the Damaged Hair Repair version; a lightweight spray that’s quick to use. Though (from experience) it's easy to overdo, a few spritzes is plenty. The first time, I was too generous and ended up with a slightly crunchy finish.
Used properly, it disappears into damp hair and works quietly in the background, reinforcing while you style.
After a few weeks of pairing it with my Chronos wand, my hair’s felt stronger, shinier, polished and longer lasting. It's a small step that’s made a big difference.
How to use:
1. Shake well and spritz onto towel-dried hair, focusing on mid-lengths and ends.
2. Comb through, then dry and style with your favourite ghd heated tool to activate. Use once a week, or 2–3 times weekly for more intensive repair.
Check out the below Beauty IQ articles for shiny, salon-worthy strands:
