Review: GHD Chronos Max Hair Straightener

A too-high heat, like 450 degrees, can damage the hair strand’s internal structure; the lowest setting damages the hair’s cuticle layer without creating a long-lasting style. GHD has found the perfect compromise. “Think of 365 as the sweet spot, the perfect in-between for the longest-lasting results with no extreme heat damage,” Kirkland says.

GHD further stands behind its researched 365-degree set point with what it calls HD Motion-Responsive technology, a new mechanism contained in both the original Chronos and the Chronos Max. Motion-Responsive technology compensates for the temperature drop that occurs when heat transfers from the straightener to the hair itself, which is a phenomenon that GHD calls thermal lag.

Kirkland illustrates this by miming using a flat iron on a section of her hair. “As [the straightener] glides down the strand, it may be 430, then 420 … it’s not consistent,” she says. “Our technology has the ability to immediately recuperate from the temp drop with sensors that measure the entire plate surface 250 times a second, to ensure that every single part of the plate is exactly the same temperature the entire time you’re styling.”

In short, even if you think you’re using a high-heat tool, it might be operating at 365 degrees Fahrenheit or even less, while also causing periods of unnecessary damage. Kirkland says it’s these consistent temperature sensors that allow users to straighten their hair more quickly, hence the “Chronos” name (Chronos was Greek mythology’s god of time).

No Pain, No Gain

This is all undoubtedly impressive, and it explains the Chronos Max’s price tag (unusually high for something that’s not an air-powered Dyson or a multi-tool), but does this thing actually straighten as well as a 450-degree iron? Well, for me and my frizzy curls, yes and no.

Starting with wet hair, I blow-dried using a Shark FlexFusion blow-dry brush attachment, sprayed on a heat protectant (as GHD recommends), and made a pass on each section with the Chronos Max. I repeated this process several times. My locks were straightened, though nowhere near as smoothly as with my higher-heat ceramic tools like the Paul Mitchell Style+ or Smooth+, let alone a titanium tool like the Sutra. I imagine if my hair were truly coily, like 4a or above, the Chronos would be an absolute no-go. The Max did work wonderfully for daily touch-ups, though, and did result in noticeably more shine over time, whether this was through the plates’ “ultra gloss” finish or just general lack of damage.

But what about those massive plates? Some straightening iron users shy away from wider plates like those on the Max, as they traditionally are more difficult to maneuver if you’re one who likes to add post-straightening waves and curls. Kirkland points out that because the Max’s plates sit closer to the edge of the clamps, this iron can still be used as a multi-tool despite the width. I tried this, and while my straightening iron curl game isn’t the strongest, I didn’t find it any more difficult to achieve with the Max as opposed to a 1-inch iron.

In all, even if it didn’t leave my coarse curls as smooth as with a hotter straightening iron, the Chronos Max is still a contender for those with easier-to-manage hair and/or those who want to minimize damage. Just don’t expect it to work a miracle, although you could be forgiven for expecting one for the price.