Ghd was one of the first haircare brands to bring a salon-style, professional hairdryer to the masses with the Ghd Air. It’s been 8 years since the launch of the Air and a lot has changed since then. There are now dozens of professional dryers available for the everyday consumer. The Helios is Ghd’s latest attempt at a professional hairdryer with mass appeal, and the brand says this new iteration is faster, lighter and quieter than the Ghd Air. But when it comes to shopping for hair styling tools, is it worth the splurge for the everyday consumer styling their hair at home?
The Ghd Helios is available in a wide range of colours to suit any style and boasts a sleek, stylish design. As far as looks go, the Helios is indeed a thing of beauty. Classy and elegant, this stylish tool would take pride of place on any dressing table. If aesthetics matter to you, then this hair styling tool knocks it out of the park.
The different coloured versions of the Ghd Helios’ plastic shell are additionally covered in a thin coating that feels soft to the touch (almost like silicone). This coating gives the dryer a smooth, luxurious feel, and makes it easy to clean and care for.
New look for an old favourite
But, as important as looks are, when it comes to buying a hairdryer, what really matters is performance. With this new iteration of its professional hairdryer, Ghd has made a point of fixing a few of the bugbears users had with the Ghd Air, without losing what we loved most about the styling tool.
Beyond its good looks, the most striking thing about the Ghd Helios is its weight. The Helios is lighter than the Ghd Air, tipping the scales at 780g compared to the 1.54kg of its predecessor. The tool has a little more weight than similar hairdryers on the market, but it feels very light in hand and doesn’t feel bulky to use. Most importantly, you don’t get fatigued using this dryer, even with extended use.
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In terms of the outside functionality of the dryer, everything else — including the placement of the two-speed and dual-temperature switches, the cold shot button and the branded grille — are almost an exact copy-and-paste from the Ghd Air. The hairdryer offers 3 speeds, 3 heat settings, and has a cord length of 3 metres for easy styling wherever you are.
Power in your hand
When it comes to investing in a hairdryer, power and performance are everything. The motor in the Ghd Helios is more powerful than its predecessor, packing a 2,200w brushless DC motor (up from 2,100w on the Air) and the holes in its back grille have been redesigned to reduce noise. In fact, this new version from Ghd is at least two decibels quieter than the Air. This is thanks to the advanced acoustic technology built into the dryer to ensure low sound levels when in use.
Performance-wise, the Helios is impressive. This hairdryer makes everything from rough-drying to basic blowdrying and styling a super quick task. The Helios’ great results are due to the combination of speed and power, as well as a cleverly designed contoured precision nozzle – the nozzle is now thinner with a curved edge designed to carefully channel airflow and speed up styling. The dryer removes water from the hair quickly, while the nozzle reduces frizz.
The even better news is that the hair looks oh-so-shiny and feels super soft after every styling session with the Helios. The super sleek results are thanks to Ghd’s Ionic technology, which helps reduce frizz and flyaways and increase shine.
Price and availability
Shopping for the best price on hair styling tools is a tricky task, especially when you want something that is up to professional standards. With a price tag of R3,300, the limited-edition Ghd Helios iD Collection hairdryer isn’t exactly within everyone’s budget. But, if you’re all about investing in the best styling tools for your hair, then you will no doubt find the Ghd Helios to be a worthwhile investment.
