CURLING IRONS & WANDS

Yes, hair should be fully dry before curling. Wrapping damp or wet hair around a heated barrel traps moisture against the hair shaft, which can cause damage and also affects how well the tool holds temperature through the curl.

This is true across every ghd curling iron and wand in the range, from the classic barrel irons to the tapered conical wand. Blow-drying hair fully first, then applying a heat protectant, also gives curl-responsive sensors (used in the Chronos Curve line) an accurate read on the hair before they start adjusting to styling motion.

Neither is better overall, they suit different curl styles and skill levels. A curling iron has a clamp that holds hair in place, making it more beginner-friendly and better suited to defined, uniform curls. A wand has no clamp, so hair is wrapped by hand, which takes more practice but gives more natural, varied waves.

The clamp on an iron like the Chronos Curve Classic or Grand does the gripping for you, so it's a common starting point for anyone new to curling. Wands, including the Max Wand and Conical Wand, require a heat-resistant glove for safe handling since the barrel is fully exposed, but that same open barrel is what creates the more relaxed, undone texture.

Yes, you can curl your hair safely when you use the right temperature and a heat protectant spray. All ghd curlers heat to 365°F, which is proven to style effectively while protecting hair health. Temperatures of 374°F and above can cause damage, so staying at 365°F reduces the risk. Using a heat protectant adds an extra layer of defence to keep your hair smooth and healthy.

Barrel size determines curl size: smaller barrels create tighter, more defined curls, while larger barrels create looser, softer waves. The ghd Chronos Curve range spans four sizes built around this, from 0.5 to 1.5 inches, so the barrel does most of the work in matching the finished look.

The best ghd curling iron or wand depends on the style you want to create.

You can take the Curl Finder Quiz or explore our full range of curling irons and wands to find the right tool for soft waves, defined curls or voluminous styles.

Yes, 365°F is the temperature ghd's curling irons and wands are built around, since it styles effectively while keeping heat damage risk low. Research found that once curling temperatures climb past 374°F, the risk of damage increases sharply, so holding steady at 365°F gives curl definition and hold without crossing that line.

Every barrel in the range, from the 0.5-inch Thin Wand to the 1.5-inch Max Wand, heats to this same point rather than running hotter for a "stronger" curl. Pairing that temperature with a heat protectant spray before styling adds another layer of defense, especially on hair that's color-treated or already damaged.

A ghd curling iron or wand is built to perform for years of regular use, backed by a 2-year warranty. Before it ships, each one goes through repeated heating and cooling cycles and up to 35,000 drop tests to confirm it can handle daily handling without the barrel or internal components failing.

Spread across that lifespan, a $239–$259 tool used several times a week works out to a small fraction of a dollar per use, a different calculation than a low-cost wand that needs replacing within a year. Because wands and irons are held and moved constantly during styling, unlike a flat iron resting flat against hair, drop testing specifically targets the kind of everyday handling this category sees.

ghd curling irons and wands range from $239 to $259 depending on the model. The Thin Wand starts at $239, while the Chronos Curve with curl responsive technology is priced at $259. Every curling iron or wand is designed by ghd scientists in collaboration with professional stylists, and our range holds an average customer rating of 4.4 out of 5.

Curl retention comes down to two things: consistent heat during styling and locking the curl with the right product afterward. ghd tested the Chronos Curve range's curl retention in a 50% humidity chamber using ghd curl hold spray or final fix spray, since a curl that survives lab humidity is a reasonable proxy for surviving a humid day out.

Letting each curl cool completely before releasing it or brushing through it also helps hair hold its new shape rather than dropping. Curl-responsive technology in the Chronos Curve range adjusts to hair as it moves through the barrel, producing a more even curl pattern than a tool holding one fixed response regardless of hair thickness, and a more even curl tends to hold more evenly too.

Yes, in consumer testing, over 70% of 400 people said the ghd Chronos Curve range curled their hair quicker than the tool they were already using. The barrel reads how fast it's moving and how hair is being wrapped, and adjusts in real time instead of holding one fixed response for every stroke. That responsiveness is what lets one pass create a defined curl rather than needing to re-wrap or hold longer to get the same result.

Yes, you can use ghd curlers on short hair.

Our curling irons and wands are designed for all hair lengths, and the ghd Curve Thin Wand is especially suited for creating defined curls on very short hair.