The Dyson Supersonic Nural is the better dryer, and the ghd Helios is the cheaper one. The Dyson (about $450 list, often $350 on sale) adds automatic scalp heat control, five attachments including a diffuser, and a 4.4-star rating. The Helios (about $280, 3.9 stars) wins on noise and saves $170 at list price.
Two of the best-known premium hair dryers, at different price points. The ghd Helios sells for about $280. The Dyson Supersonic Nural lists at about $450, though it's often seen around $350 on sale. I've gone through both brands' US specs, the fine print and the Amazon ratings, and the honest answer isn't as simple as "the cheaper one is better value."
This comparison breaks down where each dryer wins, where it falls short, and whether the Dyson's price is justified. If you read through and decide you don't want to spend $280 or more on a hair dryer at all, there's a budget recommendation at the end that could 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 | ~$280 | ~$449 list (often ~$350 on sale) |
| Amazon rating | 3.9 stars (~760 reviews) | 4.4 stars (~365 reviews) |
| Wattage | 1875W | Not listed |
| Motor | Brushless | Not listed |
| Airflow | 75 mph | 3 airflow settings |
| Heat settings | Variable + cool shot | 4 heat (82°F to 221°F) |
| Heat control | Manual | Nural sensors, Scalp protect (~130°F at scalp) |
| Noise | Bespoke acoustic system for low sound | No claim on listing |
| Cord length | 9 ft | Not listed |
| Attachments included | Contoured nozzle only | 5, with attachment learning |
| Diffuser included | No | Yes |
| Dual voltage | No | Not stated |
A few things jump out. The Helios publishes harder numbers: 1875W, 75 mph, 9 ft. The Dyson publishes features instead, like sensors, a scalp temperature target and a heat range in degrees. The Dyson includes far more in the box. And buyers rate it noticeably higher.
Let's go through each category.
Handling and Ergonomics
Neither brand gives a weight on its US Amazon listing, so I can't settle this with numbers. ghd describes the Helios as lightweight and ergonomically balanced. The Dyson's motor sits in the handle rather than the head, the design the Supersonic line is known for, which moves the balance toward your wrist during long overhead drying sessions.
Both are built with comfort in mind. Without published weights, this one's too close to call.
Winner: Draw
Heat Control and Hair Protection
This is where the gap between the two is most obvious, and it's the main reason the Dyson costs what it does.
The Dyson Supersonic Nural uses a network of Nural sensors to switch its smart features on automatically. Scalp protect mode adjusts the air temperature to hold a target of about 130°F at the scalp, which is where most people hold a dryer closest and hottest. Attachment learning recognizes each attachment and recalls the heat and airflow you prefer with it. The four heat settings are published in degrees, from 82°F to 221°F.
The ghd Helios has variable temperature and power settings plus a cool shot button. That's traditional manual control. You choose the heat, and the dryer puts it out. There's no active regulation and no scalp mode.
For most people drying their hair in 5 to 10 minutes, the ghd's approach is perfectly fine. Plenty of people use dryers without automatic heat control and their hair is fine. But if you color-treat your hair, have fine or damaged hair, or worry about long-term heat damage, the Dyson's scalp temperature control is useful, not marketing fluff. In a 2011 lab study of repeated blow-drying, surface damage rose with air temperature, and the hottest setting tested (95°C, about 203°F) lightened hair color after just 10 treatments. The American Academy of Dermatology's advice is to use the lowest heat setting, which the Dyson partly does for you.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural (by a clear margin)
Noise
This is the one category where the Helios has a stated advantage. ghd built a bespoke acoustic system into it specifically to keep sound levels low.
Dyson's US listing for the Nural makes no noise claim either way. Neither brand publishes a decibel figure on Amazon, so I can't tell you how big the difference is, or whether there is one in practice. Even a few decibels would matter, since the scale is logarithmic: NIOSH treats every 3 dBA increase as halving safe exposure time. On design intent alone, ghd has made quiet a priority and Dyson hasn't advertised it.
Winner: ghd Helios (on paper)
Attachments
The ghd Helios ships with one attachment, its contoured nozzle. It's well designed. ghd says it gives 3x more hair alignment, with 9 out of 10 users agreeing in its own survey. But that's all you get. No diffuser, no wide nozzle. If you want a diffuser for curly hair, you're buying it separately.
The Dyson Supersonic Nural comes with five attachments, including a diffuser, a styling concentrator and a gentle air attachment. Attachment learning means each one remembers your settings, so swapping from diffuser to concentrator doesn't mean resetting everything.
It's not even close. The Dyson gives you more out of the box, and you don't pay extra for a diffuser.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural
Drying Power
The Helios is no slouch. 1875W is the practical maximum for a US hair dryer on a standard 120V outlet, and ghd pairs it with a brushless motor and 75 mph airflow. On published numbers, it's as strong as a plug-in US dryer gets. Our hair dryer wattage guide explains why 1875W is the ceiling.
Dyson doesn't publish wattage or airflow speed for the US Nural, only that it has three airflow settings. So there's no like-for-like comparison to make. I'd rather say that than guess.
Winner: No clear winner on published data
Buyer Ratings
This is the category that changed my view of this matchup. On Amazon, the Dyson Supersonic Nural averages 4.4 stars from about 365 reviews. The ghd Helios averages 3.9 from about 760.
Half a star is a real gap, and a sub-4 average on a $280 dryer means a meaningful share of buyers weren't happy. The Dyson's sample is smaller and newer, so give it time. But on what buyers report today, the Dyson is the safer purchase. If you're leaning toward the Helios, read its recent low-star reviews first.
Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural
Value for Money
Right, the elephant in the room.
The ghd Helios costs about $280. The Dyson Supersonic Nural lists at about $450, a gap of roughly $170. When the Dyson drops to around $350 on sale, the gap falls to about $70.
For that money you get automatic scalp temperature control, attachment learning, four more attachments including a diffuser, and a higher buyer rating. Those are real benefits.
At full list price, the Helios saves you $170 and still gives you a well-specified, quiet dryer. That's a reasonable choice if you mainly do straight blowouts and don't need a diffuser. On sale, though, I'd stretch for the Dyson. $70 more for that much extra is the better deal.
Winner: ghd Helios at list price, Dyson Supersonic Nural on sale
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the ghd Helios if:
- Low noise matters to you and you dry your hair while others sleep
- You mostly do smooth, straight blowouts and want a precise nozzle
- You don't need a diffuser
- The Dyson isn't on sale and $170 is a meaningful saving for you
- You stay in the US (the Helios isn't dual voltage)
Buy the Dyson Supersonic Nural if:
- You color-treat your hair or have fine, heat-sensitive hair
- You have curly or textured hair and want a diffuser in the box
- You switch between attachments and want the dryer to remember your settings
- You can catch it on sale
- You want the best-rated premium dryer of the two
Buy the Remington Damage Protection if:
You've read this far and decided that spending $280 or more on a hair dryer isn't for you. Fair enough. The Remington Damage Protection Hair Dryer at about $23 is a properly good dryer for the money. It runs at the same 1875W as the Helios, uses ceramic, ionic and tourmaline technology, and comes with both a diffuser and a concentrator nozzle, which is more than the Helios includes at twelve times the price. It averages 4.6 stars from nearly 50,000 reviews. It has three fixed heat settings and no smart features. But it dries hair well, and the ionic function helps with frizz. Sometimes the sensible answer is the boring one. Read the full Remington Damage Protection review for more.
The Verdict
The Dyson Supersonic Nural is the better dryer. Scalp protect mode and attachment learning put it in a different category for heat control, it includes five attachments, and buyers rate it half a star higher. If you can get it on sale, it's the one I'd buy.
The ghd Helios is the pick if you want a quieter, salon-brand dryer with published specs and you'd rather keep $170 in your pocket at list price. It's a capable machine. Its lower rating means you should go in with your eyes open.
Neither is a bad choice. They're aimed at different priorities, and the Dyson's sale price changes the math more than anything else in this comparison.
See all our picks in the best hair dryer guide, or shop hair dryers with live prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ghd Helios as good as the Dyson Supersonic?
Not quite. The Helios has a strong 1875W brushless motor, 75 mph airflow and a low-noise design, but the Dyson Supersonic Nural adds automatic heat control through Scalp protect mode, remembers settings for each attachment and includes five attachments. Buyers also rate the Dyson higher on Amazon: 4.4 stars against 3.9.
Why is the Dyson Supersonic so much more expensive than the ghd Helios?
The Dyson Supersonic Nural lists at about $450, against about $280 for the ghd Helios. The premium pays for Nural sensors, Scalp protect mode (which targets about 130°F at the scalp), attachment learning and five attachments including a diffuser. The Dyson is often seen around $350 on sale, which shrinks the gap to roughly $70.
Which is better for thick or curly hair?
The Dyson has the edge for curly hair because a diffuser comes in the box and attachment learning remembers your diffuser settings. For thick hair, the Helios's published 1875W and 75 mph airflow are strong, but the Dyson's Scalp protect mode helps during longer drying sessions at the roots. The Helios doesn't include a diffuser. Our diffuser guide covers technique for either dryer.
Is there a good cheap alternative to both?
The Remington Damage Protection Hair Dryer at about $23 is a strong budget option. It runs at 1875W with ceramic, ionic and tourmaline technology, comes with both a diffuser and a concentrator, and holds a 4.6-star average from nearly 50,000 Amazon reviews. It has no smart features, but it dries hair well for a fraction of the price.
Which is quieter, the ghd Helios or the Dyson Supersonic?
ghd builds a bespoke acoustic system into the Helios specifically for low sound levels. Dyson's US listing for the Nural doesn't make a noise claim, and neither brand publishes a decibel figure on Amazon. On design intent, the Helios has the edge, but there's no published number to confirm it.
