GHD Helios Hair Dryer review: Dried my hair in record time

If, like me, your hair dryer’s more of a fire hazard than a functioning hot tool, you may be due an upgrade. 

With so many available, it may be hard to know which dryer to trust – so I tested one from one of the biggest names on the market.

Read my GHD Helios Hair Dryer to find out more.

GHD Helios, £179 £139 from GHD

After all, time is money, and with the speed I was able to achieve both sleek, straight locks and the type of big, bouncy blow-outs Sabrina Carpenter herself would be proud of, this investment is practically paying for itself.

GHD has long been a leader when it comes to hair straighteners, curlers and all things electronic, and the Helios’ innovative technology is taking at-home styling to another level.

Beyond its pure power, the classic, lightweight design’s ergonomic features help fight the dreaded mid-drying dead arm.

Combined with my trusty GHD Natural Bristle Radial Brush Size 1, a must-use for anyone with long, fine hair looking to create volume like me, it’s a guaranteed start to a Good Hair Day.

For more tried-and-tested options from the same brand, read Sun Shopping’s best GHD hair straighteners article.

Pros 

• Super-fast drying speed 
• Lightweight and ergonomic
• Smooth and shiny results 
• Gives a good amount of volume when used with mousse
• Quieter than other hair dryers I’ve tried 

Cons

• Takes a while to cool down after use 
• Expensive 

Overall rating: 9/10

How I tested the GHD Helios

Having spent some time over the years putting the latest hair dryers on blast, I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert in the DIY blow-dry department – whether you’re looking to keep things smooth or wanting to pump up the volume.

For both results, I began with freshly washed hair and applied a heat protection spray to avoid damaging my hair before starting the blow-dry process.

Over the years, I’ve cut my bouncy blow-dry routine down to an easy three steps:

1. I turn my head upside down and rough-dry my hair to give it some volume.
2. I flip my hair over each side and blast the roots and ends until it’s about 80% dry.
3. Separate my hair into sections and use a round brush to give it a shiny, bouncy blowout.

A smooth blowout follows a similar pattern, with holding tension key to fighting frizz:

1. I rough-dry my hair until it reaches 80% dryness.
2. I separate my hair into sections and use the round brush to pull my hair tight for smooth results.
3. Angle the Helios nozzle down the hair and move with round brush, maintaining tension.

GHD Helios review: Quickfire Q&A

How much does the GHD Helios Hair Dryer cost? Its RRP is £179, but it can be found on sale on the GHD website and at selected retailers, including Look Fantastic.

Does the GHD Helios Hair Dryer have any special features? Salon-worthy results are no issue for the advanced airflow technology. There’s temperature and power control, with a cool-shot feature to help set styles in place. Plus, blow-dry at any time thanks to the low sound levels.

What’s included with the GHD Helios Hair Dryer? Each hair dryer comes with a bespoke contour nozzle for controlled, concentrated heat to help create your best blow-dry ever.

Who’s the GHD Helios Hair Dryer best for? Anyone looking to achieve a salon-style blowout from the comfort of your own home.

What we loved: Temperature and power control makes it customisable to your hair’s needs. Ergonomic, lightweight design means this hair dryer won’t leave your arms aching.

What we didn’t: To be honest… not a lot. The price is a little eye-watering, but well worth the invest for anyone regularly doing DIY blow-dries as the performance speaks for itself.

GHD Helios review: The Nitty Gritty

First impressions

GHD’s packaging is one I will always love. The brand keeps things classy and simple at a time when every hairdryer seems to come with multiple heads and a short novel of a user manual.

The hair dryer’s core colours consist of black (which I went for) as well as white, plum, ink blue. 

The new mystic aqua is currently available on the GHD website, Sephora and John Lewis, as well as a limited-edition Icy Blue Gift Set on the brand site. Champagne gold and the pink edition are still listed with selected beauty retailers.

All retail for £179 except Mystic Aqua And Pink (£189) and Champagne Gold (£199). Selected models are currently on sale for £139 on the GHD website, Boots, Amazon and John Lewis.

Performance review

From the first step, I knew I was dealing with elite drying technology.

The GHD Helios was instantly a major upgrade on my previous hair dryer, with the GHD Natural Bristle Radial Brush Size 1 the perfect pairing for big volume and a smooth blowout.

GHD Natural Bristle Radial Brush Size 1, £20.95

Using my old hair dryer, it would take about 20 minutes to get it to 80% dry. Now, I was looking at less than 10 minutes to reach the same level.

I’ve managed to cut my drying time in half, which is a huge perk if, like me, you favour a morning shower.

At this point, it was time to incorporate the round brush, keeping the contoured nozzle close to the brush, I lifted and shaped my hair to add volume and movement.

With my previous hairdryer, my arms would start to tire a few minutes in because it was so heavy, but with Helios, the lightweight design meant I could make it through the entire routine without feeling like I’d hit the gym.

Usually, giving myself a blowout is a tedious labour of love, but the Helios helped me get a shinier, healthier-looking finish with lots of volume in a fraction of the time.

Does it deliver?

If anything, the Helios over-delivered on its promise to cut down drying time. 

I was expecting to shave off a couple of minutes, but the time difference has changed my getting-ready routine for the better (and given me some extra time in bed!).

How much is GHD Helios Hair Dryer?

Whilst it retails from £179, the dryer can currently be found on sale for £139 on the GHD website and selected retailers, including Amazon and John Lewis

Where to buy:

The benefit of GHD being such a huge brand is that you can shop at pretty much every beauty retailer you can think of, including: 

• GHD, £179 £139 – buy here
• Look Fantastic, £179 £134.25 – buy here
• Amazon, £179 £134 – buy here
• John Lewis £179 £112.80 – buy here
• Sephora, £189 £154.95 (limited-edition Icy Blue) – buy here
• Boots, £179 £134.99 – buy here

What is the difference between GHD Air and Helios?

The GHD Air is slightly heavier and better suited for salon use, while the Helios is lighter, faster, and engineered for more controlled home hairstyling. 

The Helios also includes newer tech for smoother finishes.

Dyson Supersonic vs GHD Helios?

Whilst the Dyson wins on the attachment front, the Helios offers a more traditional feel and can often be quicker for a full blow-dry. If the Dyson Supersonic’s £300 price tag is putting you off, the Helios is a great alternative.

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READ MORE:

• Best GHD hair straighteners
• GHD Duet Wet-to-Dry Review
• Dyson Airwrap ID review
• Shark FlexStyle review

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Is GHD Helios good for fine hair?

Yes – being able to control the heat and power meant I could prevent frizz and control my fine hair without causing excessive damage to my hair.

GHD Helios, £179 £139 from GHD

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