GHD Helios Hair Dryer review: can the brushless motor help to deliver bouncy blow dries every time?

Price: Currently £169

Our rating: 9/10

We like:

• Its 2200-Watt motor is powerful
• Contoured nozzle for controlled airflow and styling
• It gets hot and cold quickly when needed

We don’t like:

• It’s evenly balanced but quite large
• Bulky makes it less suitable for travel
• May be too loud and powerful for younger kids

What is the GHD Helios hair dryer?

GHD specialises in hair styling products including hair straighteners, hot brushes and hair dryers and Helios is the brand’s hero hair dryer. Launched in 2020, it has been a staple in GHD’s line up for a number of years as the company’s lightest and fastest professional-style hair dryer. Its USP is that it comes with one specially designed contoured nozzle and ‘Aeroprecis technology’ that provides a powerful and concentrated airflow for fast and smooth results. On board there are three heat settings, two speed settings and one cool shot and with its 120kmph airflow and ionic technology, it’s designed to help tame frizz and flyaway hair.

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How we test hair dryers

I’ve trialled a wide range of hair dryers and stylers over the last few years – notably in my best hair dryers and best hair straightener articles - so I’ve come to discover what makes for a successful hair dryer design. While reviewing the GHD Helios I rated it on design and looks, performance and usability. I was keen to see how well it could blow dry my unruly, thick, shoulder length hair and whether it felt tamer and shinier after drying. I rated it on how convenient and easy to use its controls were and how quickly it could reach hot and cold temperatures alike. I also measured its noise level using the Decibel Meter app.

Design and looks: 9/10

The GHD comes in five stylish colours including black, white, plum, ink blue and icy blue. The entry level box set gives you one concentrator nozzle included in the price, but you can also find a gift set that includes a diffuser attachment that is suitable for curly hair. In this review, I trialled the GHD Helios in icy blue (priced £169) that comes with a ‘luxury wash bag worth £20’ and one concentrator nozzle. It comes in an attractive presentation box with an icy blue finish that matches the hair dryer and looks like it would make a great gift.

My first impressions were positive as the hair dryer looks and feels well-made with a concentrator that slots smoothly into place and doesn’t feel cheap – I’ve found through testing various hair dryers that this is always a tell-tale sign of a well-designed model.

The Helios is finished with chrome accents that look stylish against its icy blue and black frame. The hair dryer is quite big and long and more traditional in style to the wave of more compact designs that have entered the market in recent years such as from the likes of Dyson and Cloud Nine. But the Helios does feel surprisingly lightweight in hand. It also manages to have that solid and balanced feel to it that hairdressers seem to crave – all of which helps to make the design feel premium.

Performance: 8/10

Every time I’ve used this hair dryer from towel dried hair, I’ve managed to get my thick shoulder length hair dry within five minutes. I dried my hair first on the medium heat setting until it was 80 per cent dry and then blow dried it in sections using the highest setting and this seemed to work well. This speed at which it works and the toasty temperature it reaches is quite refreshing compared to some of the less powerful hair dryers I’ve tried where you do need to have a bit of patience. After use, the main body of the hair dryer remained cool to touch although the concentrator nozzle was very hot.

In terms of noise levels, this hair dryer is about average. GHD says that it has its own ‘bespoke acoustic system technology’ that is designed to keep sound levels low while styling. On its highest speed setting I measured it at 85.9 dBA and while this didn’t bother me, I found it a little too intense when using it on the children’s hair. Comparatively, the Dyson Supersonic measures around 85.4 dBA and the Cloud Nine AirShot Pro at 88.9 dBA.

Usability: 8/10

What’s satisfying about the GHD Helios is how directly the air flows through its bespoke concentrator nozzle - there’s no messing around here. I like how quickly the hair dryer got hot, but also how quickly the cool shot went cool.

The dryer has three heat settings plus a cool shot and two speed settings. I found this more than enough to suit my shoulder length hair. I feel like I was able to dry my hair as smoothly as possibly without it resulting in too much frizz.

The control buttons are positioned on the outer side of the handle with a cool shot on the inner side. I like how secure the control buttons feel while in use. There’s no risk of accidentally changing the settings while holding the handle, which is a big pro for me as I’ve done this countless times on competitor hair dryers. I did need to use two hands when switching the settings, however.

Damage control: 9/10

This hair dryer uses ionic technology to help reduce frizz and achieve shiny results. With its 2200-Watt brushless motor and waveform heater, it’s designed to provide a powerful blast of air for fast and smooth results. With its internal aerodynamic design and bespoke contoured nozzle, it’s tailored to give you a precise and controlled air flow. I was pleased with how streamlined its blast of air felt on my hair and how easy I found it to direct the airflow downwards to smooth and straighten it without it overdrying.

While this hair dryer air flow can get quite toasty, there’s also slower and cooler speed settings for anyone who wants to take a more measured approach to drying. I think the choice of three heat settings plus a cool shot is more than enough to suit most heads of hair. While it doesn’t have any extras such as a ‘skin’ or ‘scalp’ setting, I think it does well to give you the basics you’ll need in a stylish and nourishing design.

Results: 9/10

I really enjoyed using this hair dryer as it has all the basics you need from a good quality design. I like how quickly the airflow heats up and how quickly I could take things down a notch when I wanted a cooler dry. It dried my hair satisfyingly fast each time without leaving it feeling frazzled.

While I still needed to use a hair straightener after drying, I did notice that my hair felt smoother and a little more tame than usual. I also noticed that it felt soft and more manageable as the day went on and my hair calmed a little more.

I also found the design very user friendly. The cable length is a generous 3 meters and this really makes a difference when you’re using the hair dryer in a tight space or you just want to dance around your dressing table while drying your hair. There’s also a handy storage hook on the handle should you not wish to make use of the wash bag.

Technical specifications

GHD Helios’ biggest competitor in the hair dryer world is the Dyson Supersonic, which is double the price, but perhaps better for anyone with curly hair thanks to the range of attachments. Here is how they stack up.

The Telegraph verdict: 9 out of 10

If you’re looking for a powerful ionic hair dryer with a concentrated air flow that helps to dry your hair smooth, I think the GHD Helios makes for a great buy. Its 2200-Watt brushless motor provides fast drying, while the carefully designed concentrator nozzle helps to channel the flow for smooth and stylish results. While its premium design comes with a premium price tag, I think it’s worth spending a little more on a hair dryer with this high-quality spec. It’s evenly balanced and comfortable to hold, comes with ample speed and heat settings and isn’t too loud in use. While it’s not ideal for younger kids and is possibly a little too large for travel, I think its high-quality performance, long cable length and storage hook make it a great vanity unit must-have.

FAQ
 

How many heat settings does the GHD Helios have?

There are three heat settings on the GHD Helios hair dryer that range from cool to medium to hot and these can be used on either a low or high speed setting. The hair dryer also has a quick to chill cool shot located on its inner handle.

What is the best way to use the GHD Helios dryer on my hair?

The experts at GHD recommend that you remove excess water from your hair until it’s around 80 per cent dry by using the Helios on the lower to medium heat setting first. Then use a heat protectant spray and section your hair off to blow dry on the hotter setting using the concentrator nozzle.

What makes the GHD Helios hair dryer different from other hair dryers?

The combination of a powerful 2200-Watt motor, an internal aerodynamic design and contoured nozzle of the Helios work together to achieve fast and smooth results. The hair dryer has an ergonomic and lightweight design that I found comfortable to use. While it’s quite large, I think it’s ideal for use at home when you’re in a hurry but don’t want to compromise on the results.

How can I clean and maintain my GHD Helios dryer?

It’s best to clean your hair dryer weekly to keep it in tip-top condition. If you twist the filter on the end of the Helios to the left you can remove it to clean inside. GHD suggests using a tint brush to remove any dust and hair strands that might get caught before replacing it back.