I’ll admit it, I wasn’t the Ghd chronos’s biggest fan. The plates didn’t glide through my strands quite like the Ghd platinum+ and, when curling my hair (where the irons were in use for longer), I was always left surrounded by a faint burnt smell – as though my hair hadn’t fared well in the process. That said, I’ve always been a big Ghd fan and I’m not convinced there’s another brand as effective in the straightening field. So, naturally, I was excited at the prospect of a new Ghd tool that promises zero damage, five times faster styling and up to 90 per cent more shine. The important question? Can it deliver on its lofty promises.Upon first glance, the Ghd sculpt is an undeniably attractive device. The styler is lightweight and slimmer than most I’ve encountered, and comes with a closing attachment that’s handy for travel. According to the brand, this is no mere coincidence and, rather, the precise design allows users to nestle the plates closer to the roots. This is something I found especially helpful in testing as someone with pieces of hair that jut out around my ears. After styling, my hair was left looking healthy and sleek – just the way I like it (Lucy Smith/The Independent)The zero damage claim is based on the idea that the straightener will inflict no harm to “the natural structure of your hair.” Upon visiting the Ghd lab, I checked if this claim applies to split end damage, too. It doesn’t, however the team told me that no uptick in split ends was recorded after repeat testing with the sculpt. This word-of-mouth promise wouldn’t stand in a legal setting, but I can’t deny the difference I saw after my own styling session. Where many tools can leave my more weathered strands looking a little wiry and frayed, the sculpt seemed to give my ends a new lease of life. Of course, Ghd made no claims on the damage reversal front, but I can only speak to my experience – and 95 per cent of my locks looked as healthy as the day they were last trimmed (more than six months ago). Even better, I smelt none of the tell tale charred scents I’ve come to recognise with high heat, and I still achieved the poker straight result I wanted. The cherry on top of the cake? Each style held firm through every day of testing. If you enjoy curling your hair with a pair of tongs, you’re not alone. This is my curling method of choice and the sculpt is more than up to the task. Unlike the Ghd chronos curve max, you won’t be able to create big, voluminous Hollywood waves, but you’ll be able to create one-inch ringlets like a pro. Admittedly, this size of curl can appear a touch prom-esque, but I found a gentle tease with a wide-tooth comb helped to loosen the finish. Alternatively, curling downwards at more vertical angle (vs. horizontal) creates a beachy wave. My only bug bear, much like the Ghd chronos, is that the sculpt continues to catch mid-pass as you progress down the hair. It’s not as noticeable as the chronos (I only experienced the dragging once or twice), but I never experienced this with the platinum+ model, so I’m hopeful this can be fixed if there’s ever a sculpt max or sculpt curling range in the works. For context, non-Ghd straighteners – Dyson included – are usually worse on the catching front, but it irked me during styling nonetheless. You can’t have it all, I suppose, but this is perhaps as close as you’ll get.