Let’s face it; 2024 has not been the summer of the bouncy blow dry. Shiny, zhooshy hair has been rained off, volume has collapsed in the face of downpours and the humidity-induced frizz halo has been a near permanent fixture. I’d almost joined the camp of ‘why bother?’ when it comes to meticulous drying and styling, but then the new ghd Duet Blowdry landed on the GH beauty desk and I thought I’d give it one more punt. Will ghd’s latest wet-to-dry innovation save the day? We put the brand’s new hot brush through its paces.
What is the ghd Duet Blowdry?
Ghd's latest launch aims to recreate a salon-worthy blow dry straight from wet hair (so no faffing around rough-drying lengths with a hairdryer before swapping to a hot brush). This results in 40% less energy consumption but also a smoother, gentler blow dry, as fresh new tech, dubbed Heat-Air Xchange TechnologyTM, streamlines air flow to heat the Duet Blowdry barrel and bristles evenly and dry hair at the lowest temperature possible, hence the ‘no heat damage’ claim. The elliptical barrel aims to make to make it easier to create volume at the roots, the motor is small but mighty (you should be able to hold a conversation when styling) and you can expect 50% more shine and three times more volume compared to air dried hair according to ghd’s technical lab tests.
How do you use the Duet Blowdry?
There’s just one heat and power setting, deemed ideal for drying and styling without frying hair, so you simply flick the button on and wait a few moments as it revs up. The button stops flashing and a twinkly chime lets you know that the Duet Blowdry is ready to roll. Then run the barrel from the roots to the ends to dry and shape hair at the same time, lifting the roots away from your head and holding the tool underneath them for three seconds to create volume, before rolling the barrel through ends again to create a polished, pro-blow dry effect.
Our verdict
Anna before and after blow-drying with the ghd Duet Blowdry
First things first, in line with the wave of big-ticket hot tools vying for a spot on our dressing tables in the past decade, the Duet Blowdry doesn’t come cheap. It may purport to replace your hair dryer and separate hot brush, but at £379, the price would pay for many a salon blow-dry, so if you’re more of a straightener or tong fan, it’s not the tool for you.
As for whether the triple figure price tag is justified for those wanting a pro-level blow dry daily, it’s certainly a cinch to use. I’ve got thin hair but lots of it and the long barrel swept through large sections with speed and ease; one ‘pass’ and I had smoother lengths and some very impressive volume at the roots with next to no effort on my part, although be sure to detangle hair beforehand to avoid any snagging. It conjured up flicky ends in seconds and I think that with more time on my hands I could have easily gone full rippling Hollywood waves, but a toddler pulling the (pleasingly long) cord put a stop to my styling session. Speaking of which, I could definitely hear him over the comparative whisper of the airflow.
The Duet Blowdry also doesn’t require five arms to create enough tension for a long-lasting result and, while not exactly lightweight, it’s in no way unwieldy to use. I also found the oval barrel shape very handy for getting right into the roots, resulting in far greater hold than many a round hot brush I’ve tried. It also declutters the AM routine brilliantly; if a classic blow-dry is what you’re aiming for, it’s genuinely a ‘one and done’ device.
Is the Duet Blow Dry worth buying?
It left me with a far glossier finish than I started with and a commendable level of zhoosh, but, as you'll see, it didn’t quite fully tame my fluffy postpartum regrowth (then again, it’s stubborn at the best of times and the great British weather had a lot to answer for on the frizz front). The ‘no heat damage’ claim is a stellar selling point, plus it reduces the number of hot tools you’re using overall to create your desired level of salon-esque swish, which serves to improve hair condition over time as well. My frazzled ends need a lot of TLC to come back from the brink, so time will tell there, but it took my hair from ‘rained on’ to ‘rising above it’ in less than ten minutes, which beats the competition in my book. A date with the Duet Blowdry is undoubtedly more convenient than sorting an SOS salon appointment, so if groomed bounce is your bag, it could be worth forking out for (those seeking a sleeker finish will prefer the original wet-to-dry ghd Duet Style).
You can shop the Duet Blowdry below.
