Two of the most popular hair dryers in the UK, sitting at very different price points. The ghd Helios at around £130-155 and the Dyson Supersonic Nural at £399.99. I've spent time with both, and the honest answer isn't as simple as "just buy the expensive one."
This comparison breaks down exactly where each dryer wins, where it falls short, and whether the Dyson's price tag is actually justified. And if you read through this and decide you don't want to spend £130+ on a hair dryer at all — I've got a budget recommendation at the end that might save you a lot of money.
For the full individual breakdowns, see our ghd Helios review and Dyson Supersonic Nural review.
Specs Comparison Table
| Specification | ghd Helios | Dyson Supersonic Nural |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~£130-155 | ~£399.99 |
| Wattage | 2200W | 1600W |
| Motor | Brushless DC motor | V9 digital motor (110,000 RPM) |
| Weight | 780g | ~684g |
| Airflow | 120 km/h | High-velocity focused |
| Heat Settings | 2 heat + 2 speed + cool shot | 4 heat + 3 speed |
| Heat Control | Manual | Thermistor (40 readings/sec) |
| Cord Length | 3m | 2.9m |
| Attachments Included | Aeroprecis nozzle only | Varies by edition (3 magnetic) |
| Diffuser Included | No | Yes (Curly+Coily edition) |
| Voltage | 220-240V only | Universal voltage |
| Guarantee | 2 years | 2 years |
A few things jump out immediately. The Helios draws more power but the Dyson's motor spins at a frankly absurd 110,000 RPM. The Dyson is lighter. The Dyson has smarter heat control. But the Helios costs less than half the price.
Let's dig into each category.
Weight and Ergonomics
The Dyson Supersonic Nural weighs approximately 684g. The ghd Helios comes in at 780g. That's roughly a 100g difference — about the weight of a small apple.
In practice, you'll notice the difference if you're drying thick, long hair that takes 15+ minutes. For a quick 5-minute dry, both feel fine. The Dyson's weight distribution is also a bit different because the motor sits in the handle rather than the head, which makes it feel more balanced during extended use.
The Helios isn't heavy by any stretch — it's lighter than most professional dryers. But if weight is your top priority, the Dyson wins this one.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural
Heat Control and Hair Protection
This is where the gap between the two dryers is most obvious, and it's the main reason the Dyson costs what it does.
The Dyson Supersonic Nural has a thermistor that measures air temperature 40 times per second. It constantly adjusts to prevent the air from getting too hot. You set a temperature and it actually holds that temperature. The Nural edition also introduced Scalp Protect mode, which keeps the air below a threshold that causes scalp discomfort.
The ghd Helios has two heat settings and a cool shot button. That's it. It's manual control in the traditional sense — you pick high or low, and the dryer outputs roughly that temperature. There's no active regulation. The heat coming out varies depending on how fast the air is moving and how close you hold it to your hair.
For most people drying their hair for 5-10 minutes, the ghd's approach is perfectly fine. Millions of people use hair dryers without intelligent heat control and their hair is just fine. But if you colour-treat your hair, have fine or damaged hair, or you're the type who worries about long-term heat damage, the Dyson's temperature regulation is genuinely useful — not marketing fluff.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural (by a clear margin)
Noise
Neither of these is quiet, but they're different kinds of loud.
The ghd Helios produces a typical hair dryer roar — a low-to-mid frequency whoosh that's familiar and expected. At full power, it's around what you'd expect from any 2200W dryer.
The Dyson Supersonic produces a higher-pitched sound because of its motor speed. Some people find this less intrusive than a traditional dryer; others find the high pitch more annoying. It's arguably a bit quieter overall in terms of decibels, but the character of the sound is quite different.
This one comes down to personal preference more than anything measurable.
Winner: Draw
Attachments
The ghd Helios ships with one attachment: the Aeroprecis nozzle. It's a well-designed concentrator that narrows the airflow for precision styling. But that's all you get. No diffuser, no wide nozzle, nothing else. If you want a diffuser for curly hair, you're buying it separately (and ghd's own diffuser isn't cheap).
The Dyson Supersonic Nural comes in two editions — Straight+Wavy and Curly+Coily — each with three magnetic attachments tailored to those hair types. The magnetic system is brilliant in practice. Attachments click on and off instantly, they don't get as hot as friction-fit nozzles, and they rotate freely so you can angle them however you like.
It's not even close here. The Dyson gives you more out of the box, the attachment system is better designed, and you don't have to pay extra for a diffuser.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural
Drying Speed
This is interesting because you'd assume the 2200W ghd Helios would dry faster than the 1600W Dyson. Wattage doesn't tell the whole story.
The Dyson's V9 motor produces a very concentrated, high-velocity airstream. Despite the lower wattage, it dries hair at roughly the same speed as the Helios — sometimes faster on thick hair, because the focused airflow penetrates through layers more effectively.
The Helios is no slouch. At 120 km/h airflow with 2200W of heating power, it gets through a head of hair quickly. On medium-length, medium-thickness hair, I'd call it roughly a tie. On very thick or very long hair, the Dyson edges ahead slightly.
Winner: Marginal Dyson advantage, essentially a draw
Build Quality
Both dryers feel premium. The ghd Helios has a solid, well-constructed body with a matte finish that doesn't show fingerprints. The buttons are firm, the nozzle fits securely, and it feels like it'll last years. ghd backs it with a 2-year guarantee.
The Dyson Supersonic Nural feels like a piece of precision engineering. The tolerances are tighter, the materials feel a grade above, and the magnetic attachments add to the sense of quality. It also comes with a 2-year warranty.
Both are well above average. The Dyson feels slightly more premium, which you'd hope at nearly three times the price.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural (slight edge)
Value for Money
Right, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
The ghd Helios costs around £130-155. The Dyson Supersonic Nural costs £399.99. That's a difference of roughly £250.
For that £250, you get: about 100g less weight, intelligent heat control, better attachments, marginally faster drying on thick hair, and the Dyson name. Those are real benefits. They're not imaginary.
But the ghd Helios gives you about 80-85% of the Dyson experience at roughly a third of the price. It dries fast, it feels good in hand, it produces a smooth result, and it's built to last. For most people — and I mean genuinely most people — the Helios is more than enough.
The Dyson makes the most sense if you have fine or damaged hair where heat control matters, if you want the attachment ecosystem, or if you simply value having the best available and the price doesn't bother you.
Winner: ghd Helios
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the ghd Helios if:
- You want a premium dryer without the premium-premium price tag
- Your hair is relatively healthy and doesn't need babying with heat control
- You mostly use a concentrator nozzle and don't need a diffuser
- You want salon-grade results at home without spending £400
- You don't travel internationally (it's 220-240V only)
Buy the Dyson Supersonic Nural if:
- You colour-treat your hair and want to minimise heat damage
- You have curly or textured hair and want purpose-built attachments
- Weight matters to you (long, thick hair = long drying time)
- You travel internationally (universal voltage)
- You want the best hair dryer currently available, full stop
Buy the Remington D3198 if:
You've read this far and realised that spending £130+ on a hair dryer isn't for you. Fair enough. The Remington Proluxe D3198 at around £25 is a properly good dryer for the money. It's 2200W with ionic conditioning, and it comes with both a diffuser and a concentrator nozzle — which is more than the ghd Helios includes for five times the price. It won't feel as refined, it's heavier, and the heat control is basic. But it dries hair well, and the ionic function does help with frizz. Sometimes the sensible answer is the boring one.
The Verdict
The ghd Helios is the better buy for most people. It delivers a fast, smooth dry with build quality that justifies the price. If you're upgrading from a cheap dryer and want something genuinely better, the Helios is the sweet spot.
The Dyson Supersonic Nural is the better dryer, technically speaking. The heat intelligence alone puts it in a different category. But whether "better" translates to "worth £250 more" depends entirely on your hair, your priorities and your budget.
Neither is a bad choice. They're just aimed at different wallets.
Browse all our tested picks in the best hair dryer UK guide, or shop hair dryers with live prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ghd Helios as good as the Dyson Supersonic?
The ghd Helios delivers about 80-85% of the Dyson Supersonic experience. It dries hair quickly, feels well-built and produces a smooth finish. Where the Dyson pulls ahead is intelligent heat control — its thermistor measures temperature 40 times per second to prevent overheating — and its magnetic attachment system. For most people, the Helios is more than enough dryer.
Why is the Dyson Supersonic so much more expensive than the ghd Helios?
The Dyson Supersonic Nural costs around £400 compared to £130-155 for the ghd Helios. That premium pays for a V9 digital motor spinning at 110,000 RPM, a thermistor that measures air temperature 40 times per second, magnetic click-on attachments, and Dyson's engineering and R&D investment. Whether that's worth nearly three times the price depends entirely on your priorities and budget.
Which hair dryer is better for thick or curly hair — ghd Helios or Dyson Supersonic?
The Dyson Supersonic has the edge for thick and curly hair. Its Curly+Coily edition comes with a diffuser specifically designed for textured hair, and the intelligent heat control prevents damage during longer drying sessions. The ghd Helios doesn't include a diffuser in the box, so you'd need to buy one separately — and drying thick hair without temperature regulation means more risk of heat damage over time.
Is there a good cheap alternative to both the ghd Helios and Dyson Supersonic?
The Remington Proluxe D3198 at around £25 is a strong budget option. It's 2200W with ionic conditioning, and comes with both a diffuser and concentrator nozzle in the box. It won't match the build quality or refinement of either the Helios or Dyson, but it dries hair perfectly well for a fraction of the price.
How long do the ghd Helios and Dyson Supersonic last?
The ghd Helios comes with a 2-year manufacturer guarantee and typically lasts 3-5 years with daily use. The Dyson Supersonic comes with a 2-year warranty (extendable if registered) and its brushless digital motor is designed for longevity — many users report 5+ years of daily use. Both are built well above average compared to budget dryers.