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ghd Speed: ghd's fastest motor, high-pressure air
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The ghd Speed is the brand's newest answer to the high-speed dryers from Dyson and Laifen. It suits anyone who wants fast drying but worries about heat close to the scalp, and it is listed for all hair types, with frizzy, thick and coily hair named in the specs. What sets it apart is halo dual-airflow: a ring of cooler air wrapped around the heated central stream, which ghd says keeps the barrel and attachments cool to the touch.
- Motor speed
- Not stated
- Airflow
- High-pressure, figure not stated
- Wattage
- Not stated
- Weight
- Not stated
In its favour
- ghd says this is its fastest next-generation motor, producing a high-pressure airflow.
- Halo dual-airflow surrounds the hot core with cool air, so you can dry close to the roots.
- Four speed options and four heat settings.
Good to know
- No motor speed, airflow or wattage figure is given to back up the speed claim.
- Only the halo concentrator is included; other attachments are sold separately.
Our take
How halo dual-airflow is meant to work
Most dryers speed up drying by adding heat. ghd takes the opposite line in this listing. The central airflow is heated, while an outer halo of cooler air surrounds it. According to the maker this lowers hair temperature by 20°C and lets you bring the nozzle closer to the roots than usual.
ghd also says the motor is its fastest next-generation design and produces a high-pressure airflow. The listing mentions that more than 4,000 consumers were involved in development alongside ghd stylists, though it does not publish airflow or motor speed figures.
Controls you will use every morning
There are four heat settings, four speed options and a cool shot button, which is more granular than the three combined modes on the ghd Helios. The feature that stands out day to day is the control lock. Switch it on and the dryer recalls your last-used heat and speed, so you are not cycling through buttons each time you pick it up.
That suits people who have settled on one routine and want the same result every day. If you change settings often between rough drying and styling, the lock is easy to leave off.
Attachments and what is missing
Only one attachment is in the box: the ghd halo styling concentrator. It is magnetic, stays cool to the touch, and ghd claims it gives 2.2x more root lift for longer-lasting volume. Other attachments, including any diffuser, are sold separately, which is worth noting if you have curls you like to diffuse.
The listing is also vague on hard numbers. The wattage field reads 200 KW, which is clearly an error, and the listed weight of around 1.58 kg looks like a packaged figure rather than the dryer in your hand. Cable length is not given.
Speed against Helios and Supersonic r
Against the ghd Helios, the Speed trades the Helios's published 2,200 W rating and 3 m cable for finer control and the cooler halo design. Against the Dyson Supersonic r, it has more speed steps but far fewer attachments in the box, since Dyson includes a professional concentrator, smoothing nozzle and three air attachments.
Verdict
Pick the ghd Speed if you want fast, high-pressure drying with a cooler feel at the scalp and like the idea of locking in one routine. If you need a diffuser or a long published cable, the ghd Helios or a Dyson Supersonic r with its fuller kit may serve you better.
Compared with alternatives in: Best fast-drying hair dryers, Best hair dryers for frizzy hair, Best ionic hair dryers, ghd hair dryers compared: Helios, Speed, Duet and more
Amazon listing title: ghd Speed Ionic Hair Dryer, Ultra Fast Drying, Power with Control