Ghd Duet Style Review: I Tried the New Wet-to-Dry Hair Tool that Dries & Straightens

New hair tool alert! And, this one is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The good hair day guru, Ghd, has just launched a 2-in-1 hot air styler that promises to transform hair from wet to styled in one step. The Ghd Duet Style hot air styler is set to change everything you know about styling your hair at home and is now available in South Africa.

Combining the drying technology of Ghd’s much-loved hair dryers with that of the iconic Ghd flat iron, the Duet Style was designed to simplify and speed up your styling routine. The tool is the brand’s first 2-in-1 hot air styling tool that transforms hair from wet to styled, with no heat damage; but how does the Ghd Duet Style actually fair in real life? I got my hands on one to help you figure out if this is the styling tool for you.

‘Hot mess’ or ‘so hot right now’?

You’re probably thinking the Ghd Duet Style sounds too good to be true, but this one really is one for the history books. It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for a styling tool like this, so I just had to get my hands on one to see if it truly is the styler of my dreams. Before we get to the nitty gritty of how it all works, you should know one thing about me. I am terrible at blow-drying my own hair. It’s dense, it’s curly, and it has a mind of its own.

I have all the gadgets to dry and style my hair at home, but mastering the round brush and hair dryer method is a skill that still eludes me. The Ghd Helios hair dryer was a game changer for me in terms of cutting down on my blow-drying time. But, more often than not, I can’t be bothered with the fiasco of washing and blow-drying my hair, and then having to go over it again with a flat iron. Because, even with arguably the best hair dryer on the market at my disposal, my mediocre-at-best blow dry skills turn drying and straightening my hair into a time-consuming task.

In the interest of saving time (and my sanity), I mostly opt to wash my hair one day, let it air dry (yes, it takes all day), and then flat iron it the next day with the versatility of my Ghd Platinum+ hair straightener. This turns washing my hair into a 2-day affair which isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time.

I’ve also tried all the hot brushes and hot air styling brushes on the market, and almost all of them further require a time-consuming second step to really get that salon-look blow-out. Barring splashing out on the Dyson Airwrap (which is the price of most people’s monthly rent!), I haven’t been able to find an exceptional one-step wet-to-dry styling solution.

Hands-on with the Ghd Duet Style

That is why the Ghd Duet Style has got me so giddy. After using the tool a few times, I can confidently say Ghd has knocked it out of the park with this one.

The science behind it focuses on AirFusion technology which channels an ultra-concentrated airflow through a drying chamber, designed to work in combination with four smart and low temperature styling plates to efficiently dry and straighten hair. It looks like a wide plate straightener, but in the middle of the plates is a ‘hairdryer’. According to Ghd, the tool also has sensors that predict your hair’s needs to maintain and adjust an optimal low styling temperature from root to tip.

The styler does what it says on the box and you can easily go from wet hair to straight, smooth locks with no heat damage and unprecedented softness in almost no time at all. You won’t experience that dreaded ‘Wimpy sizzle’ as you clamp the hot tool around wet hair — you’ll just enjoy a sleek, smooth, and glossy style.

To style, you simply start with freshly-washed, towel-dried hair, then section the hair and place the styler at the root for 2-3 seconds before gliding down the hair from roots to ends. Repeat until the hair is dry.

My first time using the styler took a bit of getting used to. I moved the tool super slowly (too slow) and it took three to four passes to fully dry and style each section of hair, taking roughly an hour overall. Nonetheless, I was shocked at the incredibly sleek results. My second time around took me just 40 minutes to dry and style my long, curly locks. I have no doubt it will go even faster as I get more familiar with the tool.

The true genius of this tool is how easy it is to use. If you can use a straightener, then you can use the Duet Style. For my hair, it takes about 2 to 3 passes per section to get it dry and sleek, but then you’re done. Once your hair is dry you can easily leave it like that and look like you’ve just stepped out of a salon. I have never been able to get my hair this sleek and soft with blow-drying alone and I am ecstatic at the thought of how easy it is to now style my hair at home.

How does the Ghd Duet Style work?

So, how does this contraption work? It’s not magic, but rather, the unique air filter design allows for maximum airflow to be drawn into the air styler, guaranteeing powerful performance to quickly dry and style hair with just one tool.

Airflow is propelled by a small brushless digital motor, delivering an extremely concentrated airflow with low sound levels, for a more pleasant, refined styling experience at home or in the salon. The style makes an audible whirring noise when in use, similar to (but not as loud as) a hair dryer. It’s noticeably less noisy than the Ghd Helios hair dryer, which has also been designed with significantly lower sound levels than many other hair dryers on the market.

The angled root drying vents allow concentrated airflow inside the chamber to be directed outwards, at an even lower temperature, for a comfortable yet optimal root drying performance, with no extreme heat. These vents make all the difference in achieving that sleek salon look. If you’re as bad at blow-drying your hair as I am, it’s always the less-than-perfect roots that give you away. But, with this tool, ensuring your roots are as sleek as the rest of your blowout is easy, and you can get super close to your temple and ears without the risk of burning them!

If you’re concerned about styling fatigue, then you should know that the Duet Style carries a bit more weight in the handle (presumably to house the motor) than a traditional wide plate styling tool, but is reasonably comfortable to hold. I didn’t experience any fatigue while using it. It’s relatively light and well balanced so your arms don’t get tired after a few minutes of styling.

It is however, important to keep in mind, that while the Duet Style is relatively light, it is quite bulky, so you probably won’t be travelling around with it (as much as I want to). You’re better off using something like the Ghd Platinum+ for travelling, just due to the needed space in your luggage. If you’re the type of gal who loves to over-pack, then more power to you, but I prefer to travel light.

Picture perfect with Shine Shot Mode

For gals who love perfection, you can take your styling a step further. Once your hair is dry, you can unlock extra sleekness with the Shine Shot Mode. The touch of a button transforms the tool into a Ghd flat iron styler (with the airflow stopped), for when hair is already dry and simply needs styling. This feature has been designed to boost dried or second-day dry hair for smoother and instant frizz-free hair.

I haven’t had to use this feature after initially styling my hair from wet to dry, because it seems like an unnecessary step. But, it is a great extra for touch-ups the day after or even on the third day of enjoying your blow dry.

Is the Ghd Duet Style for you?

I’ll admit, I was worried that there wouldn’t be a place for this product in my hot tool arsenal, but, the Ghd Duet Style has completely replaced the need for me to have a separate hair dryer and wide flat iron, giving me more space on my dressing table.

Of course, I still love the versatility of the Ghd Platinum+ for other styling jobs, as the Duet Style is primarily designed to dry and straighten hair. If you’re after volume, curls, flicks, and more, then you will still likely need a separate flat iron for those tasks.

The Duet Style is ideal for lasses with longer hair who favour straight and sleek styles. If you’re all about the low-maintenance life, then this tool will probably do exactly what you want it to (dry and style your hair in a couple of quick steps). It’s a great option for anyone who wants to replace two products with one.

As someone who can’t control a brush in one hand and a hair dryer in the other, it’s not overexaggerating to call this tool a game-changer of note.

Price and availability

The price? The Ghd Duet Style is available in black and white at a recommended retail price of R7,100. It may sound staggering, but the tool does pack a whole lot of futuristic technology.

The Ghd Duet Style is now available at select salons and as well as online from the Ghd South Africa website.