ghd
ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer
$329
Released 2020
Best Hair Dryers · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer is cheaper at $199. Every spec and price links to its source.
ghd
$329
Released 2020
Drybar
$199Cheaper
The Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer is the cheaper at $199. The Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $329 Current MSRP at Ulta Beauty | $199 |
| Brand | ghd | Drybar |
| Released | 2020 | — |
| Wattage (W) | 1875 | 1875 |
| Weight (g) | 544 | 510 |
| Heat settings | 3 | 3 |
| Speed settings | 3 | 2 |
| Ionic | Yes | Yes |
| Cool shot | Yes | Yes |
| Attachments included | Contoured concentrator nozzle (1); diffuser sold separately | 2 concentrator nozzles |
| Motor (rpm) | — | — |
Sources — ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer: ulta.com (verified 2026-06-15). Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer: ulta.com (verified 2026-06-15).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Two whitelisted reviewers both rate the ghd Helios among the best dryers they've tried: TechRadar timed it with a stopwatch and decibel meter, Real Homes tested it hands-on. Both praise fast drying (roughly a minute to go from wet to dry) and a smooth, frizz-free finish, and both flag the high £159 price as an investment rather than an impulse buy. TechRadar additionally notes the powerful airflow strips volume. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Fast drying — took wet hair to dry in around a minute; Smooth, frizz-free finish; Well-built, attractive design with a premium silicone-feel shell.
Flagged: Expensive at £159 — an investment, not an impulse buy; Powerful airflow leaves hair lacking volume.
No sourced tester review yet.