GHD Helios Hair Dryer review: Dried my hair in record time
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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.
3
BUY 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:
I turn my head upside down and rough-dry my hair to give it some volume.
I flip my hair over each side and blast the roots and ends until it's about 80% dry.
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:
I rough-dry my hair until it reaches 80% dryness.
I separate my hair into sections and use the round brush to pull my hair tight for smooth results.
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
BUY FROM GHD
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:
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.
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.
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COFFEE CHEESECAKE BROWNIES These cheesecake brownies strike a fine balance. The coffee manages to give a mocha vibe, with the creamy cheesecake element providing the means of marbling. SERVES 24 260g salted butter, roughly cubed, plus extra for greasing 475g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 2 tbsp instant coffee 4 eggs, beaten 330g soft light brown sugar 70g self-raising flour 1 tsp flaky sea salt For the cheesecake 1 tbsp instant coffee 150g full-fat cream cheese 50g caster sugar 1 egg, beaten 1 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour 1 Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan/ gas 5. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm × 30cm baking tray. 2 Melt the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (if you prefer, you can do this in short bursts in the microwave, stirring between each one). Mix to form a smooth sauce, then add the instant coffee, stir through and set aside to cool. 3 Put the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, and whisk until thick and pale in colour (about 3-4 minutes; 8-10 minutes by hand). Pour in the butter and chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined, then sift in the flour and fold through. Stir in the salt, then spoon the batter into the prepared tray. 4 Now prepare the cheesecake mixture. In a separate bowl, add 1½ tablespoons of boiling water to the instant coffee and stir to dissolve. Add the cream cheese, sugar, egg and flour, and use a balloon whisk to gently beat it all together. Using the back of a tablespoon, make dents in the brownie mixture, and spoon the cheesecake mixture into the indents. Swirl through the brownie mixture with a skewer for a marbled effect. 5 Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top has a crust, while only a slight wobble remains in the middle. Leave to cool to room temperature, then chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before slicing and serving. This will ensure very fudgy brownies. VANILLA SPRINKLE CAKE This cake gives you licence to raid the sprinkle drawer (or is it just me who has one?). A simple vanilla sponge with a nice thick coating of icing, this bake will transport you back to the days of school dinners, complete with a soaking of custard. SERVES 12-18 250g salted butter, room temperature, plus extra for greasing 250g caster sugar 5 eggs, beaten 60ml whole milk 2½ tsp vanilla extract 250g self-raising flour 1 tsp fine salt custard, to serve (optional) For the topping 280g icing sugar 50g sprinkles 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm × 30cm baking tray. 2 Put the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, and whisk together until light and fluffy. In a jug, mix together the eggs, milk and vanilla extract, then slowly pour this into the butter and sugar mixture, whisking continuously. Once combined, sift in the flour and salt and fold through. 3 Spoon into the prepared baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool. 4 For the icing, sift the sugar into a bowl and add 2-3 tablespoons of water, a little at a time, to make a pourable consistency. Spread the icing on the sponge, then scatter the sprinkles. Leave to firm up for an hour then serve – with custard, if you like. PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE Full. Retro. Vibes! This sponge was my gateway to cake-baking – the simplest batter, piled on top of syrup, pineapple and (of course) glacé cherries. I love to serve this cake warm, particularly when you get an edge where the syrup has started to caramelise and tastes more like toffee. SERVES 18 300g unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 2 x 432g cans of pineapple rings, drained 230g golden syrup 100g glacé cherries (about 12) 300g golden caster sugar 6 eggs, beaten 300g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp fine salt 3 tbsp whole milk 1 tsp vanilla bean paste cream, to serve (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm × 30cm baking tray. Arrange the pineapple rings on a plate spread with paper towels and leave them to dry a little. 2 Pour the golden syrup into the prepared baking tray, then put it in the oven for 2 minutes so it starts to melt and spreads out evenly. 3 Remove from the oven and arrange as many of the pineapple rings as possible in the base of the baking tray (you should be able to fit 4 along and 3 down). Break up a couple of the leftover rings to fill any gaps; you might end up with a couple spare. Place a glacé cherry in the middle of each complete pineapple ring. Set aside. 4 Put the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, and whisk together until light and fluffy. Slowly add the eggs, whisking continuously. Once incorporated, sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and fold in, then add the milk and vanilla bean paste and mix to combine. 5 Spoon the batter over the top of the pineapples in the tray and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. 6 Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out on to a wire rack. Delicious eaten warm or cold – with a drizzle of cream, if you like. PEACH MELBA CAKE This cake is as beautiful as it is delicious. Fresh, juicy peaches (or nectarines) and plump, seasonal raspberries come together to create a sponge that tastes exactly like summer. SERVES 18 300g salted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 300g golden caster sugar 6 eggs, beaten 250g self-raising flour 75g ground almonds 3 peaches, 2 stoned and chopped into 1cm dice, 1 stoned and sliced 200g raspberries For the glaze 3 tbsp peach or apricot conserve 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm × 30cm baking tray. 2 Put the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, and whisk until light and fluffy. Slowly add the eggs, sifting in 2 tablespoons of the flour if the mixture starts to split. Once combined, sift in the remaining flour and add the ground almonds, then fold through until incorporated. Carefully fold in the chopped peaches. 3 Spoon half the batter into the prepared baking tray, then scatter half the raspberries on top, pushing them down gently into the mixture. Top with the remaining cake batter, followed by the rest of the raspberries, again pushing them gently into the mixture. Arrange the peach slices on top, pushing them gently into the mixture. 4 Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool to room temperature. 5 For the glaze, put the conserve in a small saucepan over a low heat and add 2 teaspoons of water, stirring until combined (this may be done in a bowl in the microwave). You can pass the glaze through a sieve to get rid of any chunks, if you like. Brush the glaze over the cake. Leave to cool completely before serving. BISCOFF ROCKY ROAD I truly think Biscoff is one of the best things since sliced bread. Combined with white chocolate it's utterly magical – and this is a really worthwhile upgrade on traditional rocky road. It also lasts up to a week stored in an airtight container in the fridge. SERVES 24 75g salted butter, plus extra for greasing 500g white chocolate, broken into pieces 400g speculoos biscuits such as Biscoff, broken up into pieces 600g smooth biscuit spread, such as Biscoff, melted 100g dried cherries, roughly chopped 125g mini marshmallows 1 Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm × 30cm baking tray. 2 Melt the white chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until it has all melted together and is smooth (if you prefer, you can do this in short bursts in the microwave, stirring between each one). 3 Meanwhile, put the Biscoff biscuits into a large bowl and use the end of a rolling pin to break into different-shaped pieces so that you have some that are coin-sized and others that are smaller and more crumb-like. 4 Stir 150g of the melted Biscoff spread into the white chocolate mixture, then stir again to combine. Pour this mixture over the crushed biscuits and stir to combine completely. Add the dried cherries and marshmallows and stir again. Transfer this mixture to the prepared tray, spreading it out with the back of a spoon. Spread the remaining melted Biscoff over the top in a thin layer. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before slicing and serving. STRAWBERRY AND WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE This gorgeous summery cake tastes absolutely amazing with sweet and ripe strawberries in season. The melted white chocolate gives a slight fudginess, a bit like a blondie. You're welcome. SERVES 18 250g salted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 200g white chocolate, broken into pieces 200g caster sugar 2 egg whites 3 eggs 150g soured cream 2 tsp vanilla-bean paste 250g self-raising flour 400g strawberries, hulled and diced into rough 1cm chunks For the topping 200g white chocolate, broken into pieces 140g cream cheese 70g salted butter, at room temperature 300g icing sugar 5 strawberries, sliced 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20 × 30cm baking tray. 2 Melt the chocolate in short bursts in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (you can also do this in short bursts in the microwave, if you prefer, stirring between each one). Once melted, set aside to cool slightly. 3 Put the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk until fluffy and pale, then add the egg whites and continue to whisk for a few more minutes, until fully incorporated. 4 In a separate bowl or jug, combine the 3 eggs with the soured cream and vanilla-bean paste. Add this to the mixture in the bowl or stand mixer, scraping down the sides of the bowl, and whisk to combine. Don't worry if it curdles slightly. Whisking continuously, pour in the melted chocolate. Once incorporated, sift in the flour and fold it through, then fold through the strawberries. Transfer the batter into the prepared baking tray and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool completely. 5 Meanwhile, prepare the topping. Melt the chocolate as before, then set aside to cool slightly. Combine the cream cheese and butter in a bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, then sift in the icing sugar and whisk until smooth. Slowly pour in the chocolate and give it a final whisk. Spread the topping over the cooled cake and scatter the sliced strawberries to decorate. RHUBARB AND GINGER CAKE Using three different types of ginger, this bake has layers of warmth, all of which complement the tartness of the rhubarb. I summer use regular rhubarb, but in the winter months, use the more tender forced rhubarb for wonderful pops of pink. SERVES 18 250g salted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 250g soft light brown sugar 5 eggs, beaten 250g self-raising flour 1 tsp ground ginger 400g rhubarb, trimmed and cut into rough 1cm chunks 6 stem ginger balls in syrup, finely chopped, plus 5 tbsp of the syrup 40g crystallised ginger, roughly chopped cream, to serve (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20 × 30cm baking tray. 2 Put the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, and whisk together until light and fluffy. Slowly add the eggs, scraping down the sides of the bowl to make sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Sift in the flour, then add the ground ginger, rhubarb and chopped stem ginger, along with 2 tablespoons of the syrup, and fold through. Spoon into the prepared baking tray. 3 Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool, then brush with the remaining 3 tablespoons of ginger syrup. Scatter with the crystallised ginger before slicing and serving with cream, if you like. SALTED CARAMEL AND ALMOND CHEESECAKE The crushed amaretti dotted in the digestive base make this almondy from the bottom up. With a portion of the salted caramel running through the cream cheese filling, and the rest drizzled on top, it's so simple but so decadent. SERVES 20-24 For the base 200g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing 200g digestive biscuits 300g amaretti biscuits For the filling 400ml double cream 560g full-fat cream cheese 200g caster sugar ½ tsp almond extract 260g jarred salted caramel 1 Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm × 30cm baking tray. 2 To make the base, place the biscuits into a sealable plastic food bag and bash with a rolling pin until finely crushed. (Alternatively, blitz the digestive biscuits in a food processor to form a crumb.) Add the amaretti biscuits and continue to bash or pulse until they are broken down, but don't overmix or they will start to become greasy. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the melted butter, then transfer the mixture to the prepared tray, pushing it down with the back of a spoon to create a nice compact base. Refrigerate while you make the filling. 3 In a mixing bowl, whisk the cream to soft peaks using a handheld mixer. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar, almond extract and half of the salted caramel, and mix well with the handheld mixer. Fold through the cream, then smooth the mixture on to the biscuit base. 4 Gently melt the remaining salted caramel in a saucepan over a low heat, then spoon it on to the cream cheese base. Drag a skewer through the caramel to make a swirly pattern, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours before slicing and serving. NOW BUY THE BOOK Our recipes are from Foolproof Traybakes by Katie Marshall, with photographs by Rita Platts (Quadrille, £14). To order a copy for £11.90 until 13 July, go to or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
