I’ve tried many hair dryers, but the GHD Speed, a new addition to the brand’s lineup and the newest model to grace my vanity, is perhaps the most powerful I’ve used. It also offers an intriguing special feature in the form of “dual halo airflow technology”. Basically, there is a perimeter of always cold air surrounding the main airflow.
I caught up with Janine Jennings, Education Director at GHD UK&I, to find out all the details about the new dryer and the idea behind the ‘halo’ effect.
In my testing, I was blown away (almost literally) by how powerful the GHD Speed was at the maximum of its four wind speed options, so the first half of that statement gets my seal of approval. The second half is tied to the ‘halo’ feature.
Jennings explained to me that combining cold air with hot air “maintains the exit temperature of the hair up to 20 degrees.” [Celsius] cooler, [which] “helps prevent overheating and reduces the risk of heat damage.”
I’m always skeptical of ‘no heat damage’ claims, but Jennings was able to provide supporting information: “In our Cambridge research and development lab, our scientific team rigorously tests thermal performance on multiple hair types. In these controlled studies, no thermal damage was detected after three blow-drying passes using an oval paddle brush and the Halo Professional Styling Concentrator with maximum heat and airflow, compared to naturally dried hair.”
Hold
There are also some additional side effects of the ‘halo’ feature. “It keeps the blow dryer cool to the touch, allowing you to get closer to the roots to maximize volume for better results and added shine,” explains Jennings.
I’m a little more hesitant about this part. Jennings and GHD’s marketing for the Speed dryer suggest that by adding this halo of cooler air, you can get closer to the root. However, in practice, I couldn’t really feel the cold air and I certainly couldn’t hold the dryer close to my scalp without feeling uncomfortable heat. That was true even if I held the dryer sideways over my head.
However, Jennings is correct that the dryer cylinder remains cool to the touch. It felt a little strange, but I was able to hold the GHD Speed by its barrel to have more precise control over the direction of the airflow.
Great client
Although cold air is mixed with the main airflow, this “halo” feature is not intended to replace cold draft. “Still, a cold shot is recommended to set the final look,” says Jennings. “Halo technology intelligently manages heat during drying, but the cold shot offers the final step of sealing the cuticle for long-lasting hold.”
GHD Speed makes this step incredibly easy. Not only does it have a cold shot pulse button, but it also includes “cool” as the main temperature setting, delivering a continuous flow of cold air without the need to hold a button. I’ve tried many of the best hair dryers on the market and haven’t seen this option anywhere else.
GHD Speed is available to buy now, direct from GHD and selected retailers, at a list price of £299.
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