'ghd's new curling tong gave me beachy waves that lasted all day'
ghd is a household name in the beauty world for good reason, having delivered salon-worthy results at home for over two decades and earning a permanent spot in the routines of professionals and beauty lovers alike. So, when the brand announced a brand-new launch, I was all ears.
The ghd Chronos Curve range is the latest innovation, following the recent release of the Chronos Straighteners, which have been a staple in my routine since I acquired them last year. The four new styling tools - two wands and two tongs - are each designed to achieve different curl goals.
They're all priced at £189, which aligns with GHD's premium pricing - but if you're familiar with the brand, you know the tools often live up to the hype. I had the chance to try one of the curlers ahead of the launch, and choosing which one to test was no easy task.
The Max Wand was tempting, especially with its large barrel designed for longer hair and loose curls, while the Classic Tong promised polished, defined waves. Meanwhile, the Grand Tong looked like it could deliver the kind of voluminous ringlets that bounce with every step.
But I went with the Conical Wand, the most versatile of the four, designed to create more relaxed, natural curls. Let's see how it fared below.
My honest review of ghd's Conical Wand
I'm generally more of a straightener-to-curl person, so using a dedicated wand was a change for me. At first glance, the tool has the same sleek, lightweight feel of other ghd devices, with a fuss-free on/off switch and a minimal design that looks straight out of the salon.
There are no adjustable heat settings, which will be disappointing for those who prefer to tweak it depending on the style or section they're working on. But as ghd fans know, all their tools operate at a consistent 185°C, which the brand calls the 'optimum styling temperature' - and in fairness, it worked perfectly for my fine-to-medium hair.
However, if you prefer tongs with adjustable settings, Babyliss' Rose Quartz 25mm Curling Tong (£35, Amazon) has six temperature settings, ranging from 160°C to 210°C. Otherwise, the TRESemmé Large Ceramic Curling Tong (£27, Argos) has three settings, with a maximum temperature of 200°C.
Back to the Conical Wand, it took me a couple of tries to get the technique right - wrapping sections around the barrel instead of clamping, as I'm used to. But once I got the hang of it, I was flying. I did, however, burn my thumb at one point, only to realise there were heat-proof gloves included in the box (doh!).
I sectioned out my hair and wrapped each strand for about five seconds. Once brushed out, the result was a soft, natural-looking curl that didn't feel overly 'done.'
It took me around 10 to 15 minutes to style my whole head, which is efficient by my standards. The wand was easy to handle and lightweight enough that my arms weren't aching halfway through.
It has a swivel cord, too, meaning I could style without feeling like I was playing tug-of-war with the wire. A cool tip also proved helpful in holding the wand steady without singeing my fingers (disregarding my first mishap).
That gripe aside, the wand did precisely what I hoped, without the need for excessive heat or endless styling time. The curls also held impressively well without much hairspray - slightly softer but still there - and my hair looked soft and shiny throughout the evening.
Although I'm still likely to reach for my straighteners if I fancy curling my locks, the wand gave a much more even, rounded shape with far less trial and error. For those keen to achieve volume, definition, and curls, the entire Chronos Curve range is available to shop here.
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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
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The new ghd curling range provides 'all-day hold' and leaves hair 'shiny and smooth'
The Chronos Curve collections claims to create frizz-free curls up to three times faster than other models ghd is a household name for its salon-quality hair tools, and now it's taking curls to the next level. Hot on the heels of the viral success of its Chronos straightener, the brand has launched the Chronos Curve range: a new lineup of four curling tools designed to create long-lasting waves and ringlets that stay bouncy from morning to night. The collection includes two curling wands and two tongs, each engineered with ghd's signature heat technology and ceramic barrels designed to deliver shiny, frizz-free curls. All of these are priced at £189, which is consistent with ghd's high-end pricing, but if you're acquainted with the brand, you'll know that the tools often justify the hype. The Max Wand comes with a large barrel designed for longer hair and loose curls, while the Classic Tong promises polished, defined waves. Meanwhile, the Grand Tong appeared capable of producing voluminous ringlets that bounce with every stride. The Conical Wand, the most adaptable of the four, is designed to create more relaxed, natural curls. I tried the Conical when it first launched, and I was seriously impressed. It took me around 10 to 15 minutes to style my whole head, which is efficient by my standards. The wand was easy to handle and lightweight enough that my arms weren't aching halfway through. Shop the range £189 ghd Buy Now on ghd Product Description The curls also held impressively well without much hairspray - slightly softer but still there - and my hair looked smooth and shiny throughout the evening. However, I found it difficult to style the shorter front layers, so it's worth noting if you have a similar style. The range all operates at a consistent 185°C, which the brand calls the 'optimum styling temperature' - and in fairness, the Conical Wand worked perfectly for my fine-to-medium hair. However, if you prefer tongs with adjustable settings, Babyliss' Rose Quartz 25mm Curling Tong (£35, Amazon) has six temperature settings, ranging from 160°C to 210°C. Otherwise, the TRESemmé Large Ceramic Curling Tong (£27, Argos) has three settings, with a maximum temperature of 200°C. As for the other ghd tools, they've also had some great reviews. On the Grand Tong, this person wrote: "It slides through my hair to the ends smoothly and doesn't stick or pull at all. I like the fact I can curl right to the tips of my hair, which I struggle to do with the wand." Meanwhile, a Classic Tong user said: "The curls lasted all day & still looked great the next day! The tongs were quick to heat up and cool down. It came with a handy glove which helped protect my hand from the heat of the tool." Unfortunately, it isn't all good news. A person who used the Grand Tong said: "Unfortunately, the curls didn't hold in my thick, coarse hair—even with prep and setting spray. Although the tong is advertised to give long-lasting curls (up to 24 hours), mine fell out within a few hours, which was disappointing." And someone who tried the Max Wand gave a mixed three-star review: "The 38mm barrel was a bit wide for my length of hair, so I ended up with loose waves rather than curls." But a positive review reads: "I have tried various hair curlers in the past, but never one that worked for me. The thick barrel was great for my long hair, creating soft, wavy curls that I loved. Plus, it was really quick. "In less than 30 minutes, I had completed the style from start to finish, and it would usually take me a couple of hours."
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27-07-2025
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'I tried ghd's new curling wand - here's how to get perfect waves in 15 minutes'
We put the Conical Wand to the test to see if it delivers on the promise of relaxed, natural-looking curls ghd is a well-known name in the beauty industry, having provided salon-quality results at home for over 20 years and securing a permanent place in the routines of both professionals and beauty enthusiasts. So, when the brand announced a new product launch, I was all ears. The ghd Chronos Curve range is the latest innovation, following the recent release of the Chronos Straighteners, which have been a mainstay in my routine since I got them last year. The four new styling tools - two wands and two tongs - are each designed to achieve different curl objectives. They're all priced at £189, which aligns with GHD's premium pricing; however, if you're familiar with the brand, you know the tools often live up to the hype. I had the opportunity to try one of the curlers before the launch, and choosing which one to test was no easy feat. The Max Wand was tempting, especially with its large barrel designed for longer hair and loose curls, while the Classic Tong promised polished, defined waves. Meanwhile, the Grand Tong looked like it could deliver the kind of voluminous ringlets that bounce with every step. However, I chose the Conical Wand, the most versatile of the four, which is designed to create more relaxed, natural curls, according to The Mirror. Let's see how it performed below. My honest review of ghd's Conical Wand I'm typically more inclined to use a straightener for curling, so using a dedicated wand was a slight departure for me. The tool, at first glance, has the same sleek, lightweight fee l as other ghd devices, with a straightforward on/off switch and a minimal design that wouldn't look out of place in a professional salon. Shop the range £189 ghd Buy Now on ghd Product Description The lack of adjustable heat settings may be a disappointment for those who prefer to fine-tune the temperature according to the style or section they're working on. However, as any ghd aficionado will tell you, all their tools operate at a steady 185 °C, which the brand touts as the 'optimum styling temperature' - and to be fair, it worked a treat on my fine-to-medium hair. However, if you prefer tongs with adjustable settings, Babyliss' Rose Quartz 25mm Curling Tong (£38, Boots) has six temperature settings, ranging from 160°C to 210°C. Otherwise, the TRESemmé Large Ceramic Curling Tong (£27, Argos) features three settings and a maximum temperature of 200°C. With the Conical Wand, it took me a few attempts to master the technique - wrapping sections around the barrel rather than clamping, as I'm accustomed to. But once I got the hang of it, I was off to the races. I did manage to burn my thumb at one point, only to discover that heat-proof gloves were included in the box (silly me!). I divided my hair into sections and wrapped each strand for about five seconds. Once brushed out, the result was a soft, natural-looking curl that didn't feel overly 'done'. It took me a mere 10 to 15 minutes to style my entire head, which is quite efficient by my standards. The wand was a doddle to use and light enough that my arms weren't throbbing halfway through. It comes with a swivel cord as well, meaning I could style without feeling like I was having a tug-of-war with the wire. A cool tip also proved handy in holding the wand steady without scorching my fingers (ignoring my initial blunder). My only issue is I struggled a bit with my shorter layers, especially my curtain bangs, which didn't take to the wand quite as well as the rest of my hair. As you can see in the picture above, the curl isn't quite as defined at the front. It's nothing a little styling cream can't fix, but it's worth keeping in mind if you have a fringe or shorter face-framing strands. That moan aside, the wand did exactly what I hoped for, without the need for excessive heat or endless styling time. The curls also held remarkably well without much hairspray - slightly softer but still present - and my hair looked soft and glossy throughout the evening. Although I'm still likely to grab my straighteners if I fancy curling my tresses, the wand gave a much more even, rounded shape with far less trial and error. For those keen to achieve volume, definition, and curls, the entire Chronos Curve range is available to shop here.
