Our beauty lead tests ghd’s new seriously clever, AI-driven Sculpt styler as it launches today
I’m a ghd girl through and through, but ever since I got my hands on the brand’s Chronos styler, I’ve said it would take a whole lot for anyone, ghd or otherwise, to top it. The brand may have taken that as a challenge, because just two years later, it’s gone and launched a brand new styler that packs some seriously big claims.
The ghd Sculpt has dropped on ghd.com today, 9th July, and, priced at £369, it’s considerably more expensive than its predecessors. However, it does also pack a ton of new tech that will be of particular interest to the 98% of us who believe that heat styling spells damaged hair.
I was lucky enough to get a first trial of it before it hit virtual shelves, so I’ve been using it for a solid week now. Here’s what you need to know…
The new ghd Sculpt in a nutshell
- AI-powered heat-adapt technology – Continuously senses, learns and adapts to your hair’s temperature in real time for personalised styling.
- Measures hair, not plates – Unlike traditional stylers, it monitors your hair’s temperature rather than the tool itself to help prevent heat damage.
- 2,900 temperature checks per second – Four measurement systems feed into an AI microprocessor for constant precision.
- Up to 90% more shine – Leaves hair looking smoother and glossier after styling.
- Superior curl definition (if being used as a curler) – Creates longer-lasting, more defined curls with up to 2.5x less frizz.
- Colour protection – Helps minimise colour fade while styling with heat.
- Five times faster styling – Speeds up your styling routine.
What makes it different from ghd’s other multi-use stylers?
Hair tools in general have spent years competing on faster styling times and higher heat, but ghd Sculpt takes a slightly different approach. Instead of just monitoring the temperature of its plates like the brand’s previous straighteners, it’s designed to measure the temperature of your hair itself, using the AI-powered heat-adapt technology to continuously adjust as you style. This means your hair never reaches a temperature that could compromise its natural structure.
Specifically, the difference between Sculpt and Chronos isn’t that one is hotter than the other, since both style at ghd’s signature 185°C. Instead, it’s about where the technology is measuring the heat. Chronos uses HD motion-responsive technology to keep its plates at a consistent optimum temperature as you move through the hair. Sculpt takes that a step further by shifting the focus from the plates to your hair itself.
Zoe’s review
I joined Rhode’s 700k waitlist for the summer range– here are my thoughts after 7 days of wear
Using it, it feels like a ‘next-gen’ upgrade to any of ghd’s modern multi-use stylers, but then again, I wasn’t expecting to see any vastly different results to my trusty Chronos. The beauty really is in the AI tech, so it’s much more of a long-game product. Having fine, straight hair, I don’t fight frizz or want to smooth out curls, but being a bottle blonde does mean my hair is prone to breakage and colour dullness, so I know it will reap the benefits of this styler in the weeks and months to come.
It’s too soon to say if I’m seeing a real difference in the condition of my hair, but I can report smooth and healthy-feeling strands after using it. If you’ve ever used a really hot styler, you’ll know that your ends can feel dry and straw-like after styling, but there’s none of that with the Sculpt. My hair feels soft and looks healthy. I’m particularly sold on the promises of minimised colour fade, so I’m looking forward to seeing if my blonde lasts longer now I’m using the Sculpt.
As for the tool itself, it feels lighter than previous models – more sleek. That’s good news if you struggle to curl with a bulky styler, but not quite such good news if you have a lot of hair you like to pass through a plate at once (ie, if you’re a little lazy, like me). I would imagine it won’t be long before this Sculpt, like the Chronos, launches in a Max design featuring wider plates.
Overall, a brilliant invention that’s been 25 years in the making, and I do honestly feel it’s a real step-up in styling.
