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ghd Chronos Max: plates 85% larger than ghd Gold
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The white ghd Chronos Max is ghd's widest Chronos straightener, built specifically for long, thick and curly hair. Its plates are 85% larger than those on the ghd Gold, according to the maker, so each pass covers more hair and a dense head needs fewer sections. The reason to choose it over other wide plate tools is that it pairs the extra width with ghd's newest motion-responsive heat and close-edge plates for root control.
- Plate size
- 85% larger than ghd Gold
- Max temperature
- 185°C
- Heat up
- Not stated
- Weight
- 489 g
In its favour
- Plates 85% larger than ghd Gold mean fewer sections on thick or long hair, per the maker.
- HD motion-responsive technology adjusts power as you move to hold 185°C through dense sections.
- Close-edge plates are designed to style right from the root despite the extra width.
Good to know
- The heat is fixed at 185°C, so there is no higher setting for very coarse hair.
- Heat up time is not stated in this listing.
Our take
What thick hair needs from a straightener
Thick hair cools the plates as it passes through, and many straighteners respond by needing a second or third pass. ghd says its HD motion-responsive technology adapts to your styling movements so heat keeps up, with one-stroke results and claims of up to 90% more shine and 2.5 times less frizz. The temperature is fixed at 185°C.
Close-edge plates let you get nearer the scalp, which matters because roots on thick hair are often the hardest part to smooth.
Practical details
Amazon lists 489 g for this white version; the stated dimensions look like packaging rather than the tool. Smart sleep mode switches it off after 10 minutes of inactivity. The listing does not give heat up time, cable length, voltage or the plate width in millimetres.
Limits of fixed heat
For very coarse hair, 185°C may not be enough to get the result some people are used to, and there is no higher setting. ghd's view is that its technology makes extra heat unnecessary, but that is a claim to weigh against your own experience. Fine hair that sits in the same household gets no lower option either.
Chronos Max against other thick hair picks
The ghd Max is the older wide plate ghd, with plates 70% larger than standard and a stated 30-second heat up. The Faszin 42 mm wide plate reaches 230°C with adjustable settings. The L'Oréal SteamPod 4 uses steam with heat adjustable to 210°C.
Is it worth stepping up from the ghd Max
If your current ghd Max needs several passes per section, the Chronos Max's newer heating and closer plate edges are the main reasons to upgrade. If the ghd Max already works well for you, the difference may be smaller in daily use.
Verdict
Choose the white Chronos Max if you have long or thick hair and want ghd's newest heating on wide plates that still reach the root. If you need hotter or adjustable heat, the Faszin 42 mm wide plate is the alternative, and the ghd Max remains a sound wide plate option with a stated quick heat up.
Compared with alternatives in: Best straighteners for thick hair
Amazon listing title: ghd Chronos Max Wide Plate Hair Straightener & Styler for Thick Hair