When it comes to drying time, The Dyson was consistently the fastest, taking hair from damp to fully dry quicker than both ghd and Shark. ghd came in at a close second while Shark required the longest drying time on dense or textured hair.

In terms of smoothness and finish, ghd delivered the glossiest, most polished result. I really felt like I got a professional blowout with literally zero frizz. Dyson offers a softer, natural finish, while Shark smooths well for the price but cannot rival ghd’s shine.

For ease of use, ghd wins for its simplicity. Afterall, you don’t need to switch out any of the attachments and its one-step wet-to-dry finish requires almost no technique. Dyson remains the quietest and lightest, making it the most comfortable to hold during longer styling sessions. However, if you are looking for different attachment options, you may want to look towards Dyson and Shark. If you’re like me and you prefer a one and done product, the ghd is perfect.

When it comes to longevity, ghd completely surprised me. I have never had a blow dry stay fully intact overnight the way it did with the Duet. The smoothness, shape and shine were still there the next morning with almost no touch-up needed. As someone who prefers to wash and style my hair the night before (to save time in the mornings), this was the feature that genuinely sold me on the tool. Neither Shark nor Dyson offered the same next-day payoff. They look great on day one, but ghd is the only one that truly lasted.

When looking at hair health, both ghd and Dyson stood out for their intelligent heat control. ghd avoids the crunchy texture common in wet-to-dry tools, and Dyson’s temperature cap protects fine hair. The Shark tends to run hotter and needs more passes to achieve smoothness.