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Home / Curlers / Spring Curling Irons / Ghd Classic Curl Curling Iron (Performance Test)

Ghd Classic Curl Curling Iron (Performance Test)

We tested everything about GHD’s Classic Spring Iron and found nothing but quality

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★★★★★ 4.4 out of 5

Model name/ number: N/A
Price: $205
Shape: traditional spring iron
Available sizes: 1” and 1.25”
Best for: fine to medium hair, all hair lengths except very short
What we like: extraordinary material quality, long-lasting curls
What we don’t like: not versatile as no variable heat settings
How it stands out: Ghd Classic creates defined and bouncy waves that last for days

Ghd Curve Classic Curl is the traditional spring-type curling iron that this brand offers. It comes with a holding clamp to keep the strands in place, attached to the tool while styling your hair. This, first of all helps create a tighter and more defined curls. The locks are spiral rather than being s-shaped, and the results are quite perfect-looking and bouncy instead of casual. This type of curling iron also is known to be easier safer on the hands as you don’t use it to hold the hair. It has a non-slip barrel to help create an even more polished look as it keeps the ends bent longer. It has a 1” barrel, which is the most versatile and common option in the market. It fits almost all hair types and lengths, as long as it’s not ear-length or shorter. Its ceramic material provides a gentle session as it heats up slowly, and makes this tool relatively beginner-friendly. It has only one heat option which is 365 °F, as they believe this number is the best for optimal results. It is true that it’s perfect for medium hair types, unruly hair most likely will need higher temperatures to get tamed properly. It’s also too hot for some very fragile hair types. It has perfect material quality which lasts for many years and is very ergonomically designed, lightweight, and compact. But it’s a bit too expensive for some home stylists and not for every budget.

If you’re seeking the best curling iron for thick hair, rest assured, the GHD Curve Classic Curl Curling Iron has you covered.

Below, we share our experiences with “GHD Curve Classic Curl Curling Iron”.

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Shape

GHD Curve Classic Curl is a traditional spring iron which is the most commonly found shape in the market. It has a holding clamp that keeps the hair attached against the tool while curling your strands. It closes automatically and opens manually. It’s a very easy-to-use type of tool that doesn’t require you to use both your hands, unlike wands. It’s also less likely to burn your hands while styling. Spring irons usually allow you to create more uniform and tight curls, and this tool is no different. The results of it are very bouncy and perfect-looking. The curls are spirally and uniform.

While the beautiful curls that it creates are very satisfying and they last for days, this tool is not for you if you’re looking for a more casual hairstyle. Its curls may appear to be a bit too “perfect” for some. Curling wands are the ones that create an undone look which is less obvious to the naked eye. There are many in the market that would suit you needs such as Bioionic Goldpro Styling Wand, which leaves out the clamp on purpose for more natural-looking waves.

Size

Here is a section that should never be avoided if you want a curling iron exactly for your needs. When it comes to size of a curling iron, there are different aspects to consider, such as the barrel’s diameter and length. While the diameter determines the size of the curls that will be created, the length of the barrel is important as different hair lengths have different needs.

GHD Curve Classic Curl comes in two different barrel widths; 1” and 1.25”. The most versatile 1” barrel is the most common size in the market and fits almost all types of strands. It creates medium-sized curls that can fit the needs of most as they can be used as beach waves or defined curls. It fits all hair lengths, unless your hair is shorter than neck length, in that case we recommend even a narrower barrel such as Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron that has a 0.75” option. Ghd also comes in a 1.25” barrel which is also considered medium-sized, but appeals to the needs of very long strands. So, if your hair is mid-back length or longer and you still want medium-sized locks, 1.25” is perfect for you. This size is also better for thicker strands as its larger size allows it to heat up more and provide a stronger session.

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Length of the barrel also matters. GHD has a 4.5” barrel, which is the shortest size on our list. Short barrels are more compact and usually much more travel-friendly. But they heat up less and are not the most convenient for thick strands. Combined with its low maximum heat, this tool is not suitable for unruly hair. Bioionic Long Barrel Curling Iron not only has a 6.25” barrel length, it also heats up to 430°F, making this tool perfect for thick and unruly strands.

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Heat and Variable Settings

We can’t stress enough the importance of variable heat settings in a hot hair tool, and unfortunately, GHD Curve Classic Curl leaves out this feature. It’s fixed on a specific temperature, which is 365°F, which they believe to be the perfect heat to curl strands, hot enough to smoothen and cool enough to be safe from heat damage. While they may have a point, in case if you have medium hair texture, their logic doesn’t fit for all. If you have thick and unruly strands his temperature probably won’t be enough to tame them. On the other hand, if you have fragile and thin hair, it will be too hot and may damage your strands. So, this tool is, in our opinion, is perfect only for medium-texture hair. So, if this is your type, we really recommend this tool as they seem to have found the perfect temperature for you. But otherwise, almost every other tool in the market offers variable heat settings. BabylissPro Porcelain Ceramic Spring Curling Iron offers a heaping 30 variable settings that you can choose from starting at 230°F, and goes up till 430°F.

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Material and Performance

GHD Curve Classic Curl has a ceramic barrel. This material is known to be the gentler option compared to titanium. It heats up slower and less, making it a much safer option for beginners. While this tool doesn’t have very low heat settings, its ceramic material compensates with its gentleness and makes this tool a relatively safer option for fine strands. Ceramic also provides shinier results than other materials in case this is important for you. As you can imagine, ceramic also is slower than titanium. If you have thick hair, a titanium barrel is a much more suitable option for you. Infinitipro by Conair Rose Gold Titanium Curling Iron (14) heats up really fast and provides a speedier session.

GHD may not be the fastest tool in the market, but it offers the greatest material quality. It really is a winner when it comes to durability and sturdiness. It’s a luxury tool and very ergonomically designed.

Features

This tool offers a feature called “ultra-zone technology” and is meant to provide consistent heat without fluctuations. After our tests, we can say that the heat is keeping its strength quite well and it does make a difference compared to other ceramic tools.

They have a “safe-for-hair” temperature of 365 °F,, which they claim is the best temperature for styling and avoids extreme heat levels that can damage your strands.

Ghd doesn’t come with ionic technology. This feature eliminates frizz from the strands while styling and in our opinion makes a big difference in the results. So, if you have frizzy hair and it’s important for you to get smoothen it out, it’s best to choose another option that offers this feature. Infinitipro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron not only comes with ionic technology, it also has a tourmaline-coated barrel that emits large number of negative ions for even smoother results.

This tool has a non-slip barrel. This is a quite rare quality that helps keep the hair in place, especially towards the tips, providing more polished results and tighter locks.

It has auto shut-off technology and the timer is 30 minutes, considerably shorter than the usual 1 hour. This is a good thing if you don’t spend more than half an hour styling your hair but, if the session is taking longer, it may get annoying to find your tool shut down without noticing.

It plays a short starting tune and there’s a pulsing to let you know when the tool is heating up. It also lets you know when it reaches to its maximum temperature.

It has dual voltage which means that it’s compatible to use in different countries in case you want to travel with your tool.

Ergonomics

Ghd Curve Classic Curl weighs 7.6 oz, which is slightly less than the average number of 8 oz. It can be considered a lightweight tool and combined with its short size and dual voltage; we can say that this tool is quite travel-friendly. Weight is also important to consider because most people suffer from arm fatigue if they hold these tools for long. In our opinion, this tool won’t cause any issues, unless you need a very long session.

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The handle’s diameter is 1.06” and is almost average-sized. You can assume that it’ll fit your palm perfectly unless they’re tiny.

This tool doesn’t have a digital display or temperature control. Well, this is not really surprising since it doesn’t come with variable heat settings. If you are a beginner and would like a tool with the whole shebang of fancy features, there are many other in the market, such as Bioionic Goldpro Curling Iron.

It comes with a cool touch finger grip which makes things much more comfortable as you can hold the top of your tool without burning your fingers. It also has a built-in counterrest that makes sure your hot tool doesn’t touch the surfaces, providing extra safety.

It has a swivel cord which is 8.5 ft. This is a longer-than-average size and is very comfortable, especially for professionals. But it doesn’t come with a Velcro tape and may look a bit messy when it’s not being used.

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Price & Warranty

GHD Curve Creative Curl is one of the most expensive curling Irons on our list. It has top-quality material quality which will definitely satisfy you. But the fact that it doesn’t come with variable heat settings, makes this tool not the fastest for thick strands. The price vs performance is great if you have medium-type hair but if your strands are fine or thick, we think it’s a bit overpriced.

It’s a luxury tool and with $205, it certainly is not a very affordable one. If you don’t mind the cheap material, Revlon Long Lasting Curls Curling Iron(20) is an alternative worth considering which provides efficient results and costs only $15.

GHD comes with a 2-year warranty which is the average number amongst hot hair tools.

Competition

If you have thick and unruly strands, you might struggle with GHD Curve Classic Curl as it doesn’t heat up too much. You’re better off with a curling iron that reaches at least up to 400°F and has a titanium barrel. Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron (10) has a heaping 50 heat settings and reaches up till 450°F. It also has a titanium barrel that adds to its heating ability. This option will provide you a faster and more effective session with. Decent material quality.

If you’re on a budget and looking for a gentle tool, the InfinitiPRO by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron is a great alternative. It has a heat range of 285°F to 400°F.

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