We handed this straightener to 3 women with very different hair and the results are in.

Thanks to our brand partner, ghd

If you've ever tried to wrestle your thick, curly or long hair into something resembling "sleek and straight" before work, you'll know this: not all hair straighteners are created equal. 

And if you want silky, shiny hair without the heat damage (who doesn't?), ghd might've just dropped your new favourite styling tool.

The ghd Chronos Max Best Wide Plate Hair Straightener ($495) is their award-winning wide plate styler — but supercharged.

Image: Supplied.

We're talking 85 per cent larger plates that make it ridiculously fast to style thick, long or textured hair and 24 per cent thinner edges so you can get right in at the roots. 

Translation? You can actually style from root to tip in a single stroke (yep, just one), without going over the same section 10 times.

It also packs ghd's best high-definition technology, giving you ultra-smooth, frizz-free results that last a full 24 hours — all at the optimal 185 degrees Celsius to protect your hair without compromising on results.

With it also being awarded the "Best Hair Tool" by voters in the You Beauty awards, we had to see if it lived up to its name. So, we handed it to three women with completely different hair types to see how it performed. After a week of testing, here's what they really thought.

Keeley: Curly hair

Before and after. Image: Supplied.

If you've got curly hair, you'll be very familiar with the age-old question: "Why don't you just wear it natural?" Cute. But those of us in the curly club know the truth — second-day straight hair is just so much easier to deal with than trying to tame a fresh wash-day situation.

So when I got my hands on the new ghd straightener, I had high expectations. I did the full prep: washed my hair, spritzed on the ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray, let the curls do their thing… then got to work.

And I was seriously impressed from the get-go. It smoothed out all the bends and kinks easily, without needing to section off each individual curl.

The result was sleek, shiny hair that stayed that way for five full days. From Monday through Friday, I didn't have to think about styling. A quick brush and I was good to go — and yes, I absolutely took advantage of that extra hour of sleep.

As for the frizz? Gone. No puff at the roots, no flyaways halfway through the day — just smooth, polished hair that actually lasted.

Effortless, reliable and genuinely time-saving. I get the hype.

Isabelle: Thick hair

Mid-styling and after styling. Image: Supplied.

I have thick hair — and if you know, you know. Each strand might be fine, but there's a lot of it. Great for volume, not so great when you're racing the clock and styling takes the better part of an hour.

That's why having the right tools is essential — I need something that saves time without compromising on results. And after a week with the ghd straightener, I noticed a real difference.

The wide plates were a standout. Normally I have to work in tiny sections, but this let me take bigger chunks without losing definition — cutting my styling time from 45 minutes to around 20.

The heat felt gentler too. I was sceptical at first, but whatever tech magic is at play, it works.

My hair looked shinier and felt smoother, without that crisp, fried texture that sometimes comes from repeatedly going over sections. And since cutting my hair shorter, I've been extra cautious with heat, so this was a big win.

Bonus: it's not just for straightening. The curved barrel made it easy to add soft, flicky waves — the kind I usually struggle to get with a round brush or curling wand. And they actually held, even after walking to work in 80 per cent humidity.

Overall, this is one of the best tools I've used to make styled hair feel achievable every day. 

Valentina: Long hair

Image: Supplied.

I have thin hair but lots of it, and over-washing tends to make it oily — so I try to stretch out the time between washes as much as possible. This means, as someone who styles their hair as little as possible, I put more thought into finding the right hair tool than is probably reasonable.

And thankfully, I stumbled on the hair magic of ghd straighteners nearly two decades ago when I was in high school. My ghd has never let me down, which is why I'm so loyal to it.

After trialling the new ghd straightener, I was impressed to find it was even better than my last. That's the thing about ghds, they just get better and better. 

The design is slim and lightweight, making it easy to manoeuvre into any style. I can literally have my hair done in 10 minutes. And did I mention it also heats up super fast? No wait time is life-changing when you're running late, which let's face it, I usually am.

I always get compliments about how shiny my hair is and I'd say a big factor is using the ghd straightener. The styling lasts until my next wash, I usually only need to touch up my fringe and I'm good to go. It's definitely my new daily go-to. 

Shop the ghd Chronos Max Wide Plate Hair Straightener online, now 15% off until the 30th June.

Feature Image: Supplied.

ghd is Australia's #1 hair tool brand, leading the way in science of hair, creating innovative technology and luxurious hair tools to deliver superior results without compromising hair health. The brand of choice for professional stylists around the world, our award-winning hairstyling tools allow you to create salon-worthy looks at home to make everyday a good hair day!
Based on ownership of a "hair tool", 35% of 2073 people surveyed in Australia owned a ghd hair tool, brand ownership study conducted Jan-Feb 2024.