Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more
Choosing a hair dryer is always tough - how many attachments do you need? Speed settings? Temperature controls?
As someone with curly hair who's also often on the go, picking the best hair tools always seems like an impossible task.
I've always sworn by ghd's hair straighteners (I still have the same pair I bought back in 2016), so when given the chance to try out the brand's Helios professional hair dryer, I was game.
Promised to be a game-changing new innovation from ghd, it offers 'ultimate styling control and 30 per cent more shine'.
Would it live up to expectations?
ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer
- Dimensions 28cm x 9cm x 20cm
- Number of speeds 3
- Weight 0.78 kg
Our Verdict
I'll admit - this was the fastest my hair has ever dried. The product promised a flawlessly smooth blow-dry achieved in record time, and it certainly did so. In less than 10 minutes, my hair was bone-dry. Impressive.
The three speed/power levels and three temperature controls meant I also had control over what I was doing, which is essential for blowdrying any kind of hair, especially curly.
The attachment nozzle helped me to blow-dry my hair straight, and I managed to get relatively frizz-free results - which is not an easy task with my curls.
Fortunately, it was also super lightweight, so my arm didn't get tired while I used it.
How we test
When testing beauty products like hair dryers, we try them out thoroughly and use them exactly how we would when styling our hair on a typical day. We give them the sort of challenges they are likely to face in a typical household.
In the case of the ghd Helios hair dryer, I washed my hair like I usually would, brushed it out and began to dry my hair.
While I was using the hair dryer, I made sure to look out for a variety of different factors.
- These include the drying speed, power, frizz, how the dryer felt in my hand and the ease of use.
- I also researched similar products on the market, either by Shark or other companies like Dyson, to see how it would compare.
First impressions
When the hair dryer first arrived, I was impressed at the sleek and luxurious packaging - it would be perfect as a gift.
It was also really simple to use - within minutes, I had plugged it in and begun to test it.
I tested out the hairdryer after washing my hair, and found it worked very fast
It's easy to see how salon-quality results can be achieved with this, however you'd probably need better blowdrying skills than I have in order for it to reach its full potential.
Attachments and settings
Unlike some other products on the market at the moment, this is a classic hair dryer - with just one add-on nozzle.
It's perfect for a simple straight blowdry or to generally dry your hair - but it's not quite as versatile as models with add-ons by brands such as Shark and Dyson.
Hair drying speed and power
In terms of settings, this product does shine.
It was easy to increase the speed and temperature, or use a blast of cold air on my locks.
In 10 minutes, I was done - which, for my hair, and by any measure, I think, is quite an impressive feat.
Smoothness and damage
'Smooth' is not necessarily something that comes easily for my hair, as my wavy curls tend to be rather unruly. What's more, I struggle to tame the frizz in my hair - and wondered if a salon-quality product would do the trick.
As far as hairdryers go, this one was great - it didn't look too frizzy after I was done using it, and there was no dryness, which is always a plus.
The smoothness stayed for a couple of days, which is not always a given with wavy hair.
Value for money
At £189, this is by no means a budget product. There is plenty on the market for much less - although, as with most ghd products, the quality is top tier.
If you're looking for a simple, quality hair dryer, this is a great pick.
But if you want something with more attachments and functions, it could be work buying something like the Shark SpeedStyle Pro 3-in-1 High-Velocity Hair Dryer - in a similar price range.
How does it compare to similar products?
The Dyson Supersonic, Cloud Nine, The Airshot Pro and Parlux Digitalyon were also good options suggested while I was researching alternatives to the Helios.
The award-winning Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, while more expensive, does have five attachments; a great perk in comparison to the ghd model.
How does it rate online?
On the ghd website, it has a 4.7/5 rating - impressively high - with 92 per cent saying they would recommend this to a friend.
One review said: 'Easy to hold, good size, lovely colour and dries my hair very quickly! Love it!!'
Clearly, users are loyal to the brand for a reason.
The ghd Helios hair dryer is sleek and lightweight, making it easy to use
Another said: 'This is my second ghd Helios Hair Dryer and I wouldn't buy any other brand.'
Others praise the speed and the settings on the model.
A review read: 'Don't get me wrong, it is an expensive product, I won't lie. My hair is thick, wavy, 32 inches long, and my hair dried in minutes! I timed myself using the hair dryer; it took exactly 9.28 minutes. It's so good if you want to splurge, splurge on this!!'
However, one did say: 'I'm really disappointed with this ghd hair dryer. I paid a lot of money for it, but the airflow is not hot enough at all. I have to use it for a long time to dry and style my hair, and even then, it doesn't shape my hair properly because the air simply isn't hot. Unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations at all.'
Why trust us
At the Daily Mail, our team of expert testers have been researching, reviewing and writing about their respective specialisms for years.
Erin has plenty of experience reviewing and writing about a range of products from travel to beauty. All of her reviews are honest, impartial and give a full-rounded opinion of the products she tests.
FAQs
Is the ghd helios hair dryer worth it?
Most users say this product is worth the investment for its results.
I'd say the best benefit is the short drying time, especially for thick or long hair.
It's also very easy to use - if you want to splash out on a hair dryer.
What is the difference between ghd hair dryer and Helios?
The Helios is a lighter, faster, and more advanced evolution of the classic ghd Air.
It's also a little more expensive than the classic model.