Sometimes new launches cause such a wave of excitement—some may even say hysteria—amongst fellow beauty journalists, that there is no option but to get our hands on them. Think of it as the beauty version of being the owner of a coveted Harry Styles or Beyoncé ticket. And right now, said launch is the GHD Duet Style Hot Air Styler. It seems to have already got the industry in a chokehold, from freelance beauty editor Lucy Partington declaring her love for the hot new tool on Instagram to celebrity makeup artist Bryony Blake saying "it's an absolutely fantastic device" on a This Morning beauty segment.
Now, I’m already a real sucker for a hair tool. I have the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and Airwrap, tongs varying in every width imaginable, multiple hot brushes and a pair of trusty straighteners. So the question for me is, can the new GHD tool do something that the others can’t? If you live in London you’ll know storage can be particularly precious and my allotted space is already 90% beauty, which doesn’t sit too well with my other half. There was only one way to find out if it could make the cut and that was to test it out first-hand. Scroll on to discover my honest thoughts...
What is the GHD Duet Style Hot Air Styler?
Specifications:
Suitable for all hair types and textures
2-in-1 wet-to-dry styler
Air-fusion™ technology dries hair in just a few passes
Low styling temperature to reduce damage
Can be used on dry hair as a regular hair straightener
Shine shot mode enhances shine
Low noise level during use
Automatic sleep mode automatically turns off device if not used in 30 minutes
Pros: Takes hair from wet to straight in one, can be used as a regular straightener on dry hair, leaves hair sleek, straight and shiney, quiet noise level, no heat damage
Cons: Expensive, heavy, can take more time to dry and style, particularly if you have thick hair, doesn't provide a super sleek result on coily hair textures, so you may have to run your hair straighteners over it again
Customer review: "The GHD Duet Style is an innovative hair tool that I genuinely like for its performance. It leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and sleek after use. The combined drying and straightening technology is a game-changer, especially for taming frizz and achieving a polished look. That said, the tool has a couple of drawbacks. It’s noticeably heavy, which can make it uncomfortable to use for extended periods, especially if you’re styling a lot of hair. Additionally, the process takes longer than I expected, as it requires more time to work through each section for optimal results. Overall, it’s a high-quality product that delivers beautiful results, but the weight and time commitment might be a consideration for some users. If you’re patient and prioritize a soft, salon-like finish, it’s worth the investment!"
The GHD Duet Style Hot Air Styler is a 2-in-1 tool that essentially dries and straightens the hair at the same time. You may remember back in the early '00s something was released which attempted to do exactly this, but caused the hair to sizzle—never a good sign. The scientists at GHD have created a new and pretty ground-breaking technology which supposedly doesn’t damage the hair and respects its natural moisture while making it super straight and shiny.
How to use the GHD Duet
STEP 1:
I prepped my hair as normal using a heat protecting spray and my daily hair serum. It’s important to note you must towel dry your hair before using the tool. Firstly, you slide the button on and after a few seconds the fan will start to ramp up as it heats to the optimal low styling temperature for wet hair. Once the light stops flashing and the product beeps, it’s ready to use.
STEP 2:
Divide the hair into sections, take the first section and clamp the styler close to the roots holding for three seconds. Glide down the hair towards the ends in a slow and steady pace. Repeat until dry and move onto the next section, always starting at the root. I found I only had to go over a section of hair once—twice at the absolute most. My hair is fine but I have a lot of it, however you may need to go over sections more if you have very thick hair.
STEP 3:
Once the hair if fully dry, you have the option to add even more shine by pressing down the Shine Shot button for four seconds until you hear it beep. The fan will stop and the plate temperature will increase to the optimal styling temperature of 185C. You can now use the tool as a regular straightener. Clever, ey?
After using the GHD Duet
My honest verdict
When I first used the styler I honestly couldn’t get over how straight, shiny and healthy my hair looked—I kept running my hands through it. It did help to tame my flyaways but I still had to go in with a hairspray afterwards to attempt to tame them further. Anyone else seriously struggle keeping them under control? Just me?
I would say it definitely isn’t a super quick way of styling your hair as I had to dedicate a good 25 minutes to doing it, which I expect would be more if you have thicker hair. Also, with a price tag of £379 it is by no means cheap, but if you are in need of a new straightener and/or hair dryer and love having your hair sleek and straight, it's a worthy investment because you're getting two products in one. I have naturally wavy hair and I really struggle to get a perfectly straight box bob, but it’s done that and more. As I am sat here writing this, my hair is on day three of first using the styler, still looking sharp AF and I haven’t had to re-do it at all. I’m shook.
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