Is a ghd hair dryer worth it?

What the ghd Helios offers

ghd describes the Helios as lightweight with a low sound level, though the listing gives no weight or decibel figures. It is sold in several colours and in gift sets, including one with a diffuser.

ghd also makes hot air styling tools such as the Duet Blowdry, a dryer and brush in one with heated bristles, which appears in our guide to stylers for short hair. This article focuses on the Helios as a conventional dryer, since that is what most people mean when they ask whether a ghd hair dryer is worth buying.

Where the Helios is strong

It appears in our guides to hair dryers for thick hair, quiet hair dryers and the best hair dryers in the UK.

• Round-brush blow-dries: the contoured nozzle gives a narrow, focused stream for smoothing with a brush.
• Thick hair: 2,200 W gives plenty of heat for drying and shaping.
• Reach: a 3 m cable is long for a home dryer, useful if your socket is far from your mirror.
• Frizz: ionic technology is aimed at reducing frizz and flyaways.
• Familiar shape: a traditional dryer layout, like those in many salons.

Where Dyson and Shark differ

Dyson's Supersonic dryers put a small high-speed motor in the handle and monitor air temperature many times a second; the Nural adds sensors that adjust heat near the scalp. Shark's SpeedStyle has attachments that auto-adjust settings and a Scalp Shield mode. These smart features are absent from the Helios listing, which relies on wattage, airflow design and manual controls.

Attachments also differ. The standard Helios comes with one contoured nozzle, while Dyson and Shark bundles often include three to five tools. If you want a diffuser, flyaway tool or smoothing brush in the box, check the bundle carefully. Our ghd Helios vs Dyson Supersonic comparison sets the two side by side.

Who should buy a ghd dryer

It suits less well if you have very fine or fragile hair and want a dryer that manages heat for you, or if you want a compact, travel-friendly shape. For fine hair, see our fine hair guide; for alternatives across brands, see Dyson Supersonic alternatives.

• You blow-dry with a round brush most days and want a powerful, focused dryer.
• You have medium to thick hair.
• You prefer simple manual controls to app and sensor features.
• You need a long cable.
• You want a premium dryer without paying top Dyson prices.

Running cost, power and care

A 2,200 W dryer draws about 9.6 A on UK 230 V mains, well within a 13 A plug fuse. Ten minutes at full power uses about 0.37 kWh; lower settings use less. Use our running-cost calculator with your own unit rate to see the yearly figure.

Like any dryer, the Helios needs its air intake kept clear. A clogged filter makes any dryer run hotter and can cause cut-outs. If you have a ghd dryer whose nozzle keeps coming loose, see our guide to a ghd nozzle falling off.

Note:Keep any high-wattage dryer moving and use a lower heat setting on fine or coloured hair.

Frequently asked questions

Is ghd better than Dyson? Neither is simply better. ghd's Helios offers high wattage, a salon shape and a long cable; Dyson offers compact design, heat monitoring and more attachments. Choose by the features you will use.

Where are ghd hair dryers made? The Amazon UK listing for the Helios in our guides gives North Macedonia as the country of origin. ghd itself is a UK brand.

Does the ghd Helios come with a diffuser? The standard version comes with a contoured nozzle. A gift set with a diffuser is available and appears in our curly hair guide.

How long is the ghd guarantee? The listing states a 2-year ghd manufacturer's consumer guarantee. Check the terms for your purchase.