I Just Put GHD’s Blowdry Brush to the Test—Here's My Honest, No-Holds-Barred Review

Whether for a trim, a silk press or a simple blowdry and straighten, I love a trip to the hairdresser. As someone with curly hair (a mix of 3C and 4A, to be exact), I find that when I try to wash and style my hair at home, it just doesn’t have the same effect.

This means I’ve spent a lot of time and money trying to find those perfect hair tools to give me a salon-like finish, and I think I may have finally found one that does the job. Enter the GHD Duet Blowdry Brush (£379), which promises to give "effortlessly sleek and bouncy blowdries in the comfort of your own home, using a unique aerodynamic system to avoid heat damage."

As someone who has used way too much heat on my hair over the years, I was very excited to try this out.

What Makes the GHD Duet Blowdry Brush different from other blowdry brushes?

The Duet Blowdry Brush is a follow-on from the brand’s Duet Styler, which launched in 2023. Unlike other blowdry brushes (also known as hot brushes), it promises to dry the hair in two different ways: first with hot air flow at a controlled temperature of 120°C, and second via the brush's ceramic bristles, which heat to speed up the drying and styling process.

The tool also claims to leave the hair with three times more volume and 50% shinier. I would also note that, unlike most other hair tools that advise use on slightly damp hair after air or towel-drying, GHD claims you can use this one straight away on wet hair. This is something I was initially sceptical about as I'm usually left with a lot of frizz when I use a drying tool without slightly drying my hair first, so I was eager to put it to the test.

My Review of the GHD Duet Blowdry Brush

I used the hot brush straight after washing my hair with my usual Olaplex No.4 Shampoo and No.5 Conditioner (£56). I added a couple of drops of the No.7 Bonding Oil (£28) before blowing out my hair. The first thing I noticed was that the tool is very noisy—noticeably louder than other hot brushes I've used. However, I instantly picked up on how easy it is to use. I timed myself, and it took 12 minutes to fully dry and style my hair with the brush, which is much quicker than a regular drying tool. Usually, by the end of my hair routine, my hands are aching from holding up the tools for so long, but the Duet made the process faster without compromising on results.

I was so impressed with how my hair looked and felt after using the hot brush. Firstly, it actually dried and smoothed out my roots; something I find difficult to achieve with bulkier hair-drying tools. My hair was also smooth, voluminous and super shiny. Usually after using a hot brush, I would go in with a pair of straighteners to get rid of additional frizz and further smooth out my hair, but this means adding even more heat. However, with this tool, I genuinely didn't need to. It's obviously not quite as smooth as an actual salon blowout, but considering that the Duet uses significantly less heat and only takes 12 minutes, I was very impressed.

Before Using the GHD Duet Blowdry Brush

After Using the GHD Duet Blowdry Brush

My Final Thoughts

At almost £400, the GHD Duet Blowdry Brush is significantly more expensive than other hot brushes on the market. However, if you're able to justify the price, I'd definitely recommend doing so, because I feel like it gives me a smooth and shiny blowout without the heat damage that other tools impart. I'll still be popping into the salon for the odd visit for special occasions, but this is for sure a tool I’ll be using regularly.

Pros:
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t take long to dry and style hair
- Dries the roots, unlike a lot of other blowdry brushes
- Leaves hair smooth and shiny
- Snag-free bristles mean it can suit all hair types.

Cons:
- Expensive
- Rather noisy
- Hard to clean.

Shop the GHD Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer Brush:

Shop Other Blowdry Brushes I Love: