Nicky Clarke NCS15 Frizz Control Ceramic Straightener Review

Overall Rating

2 heat settings, easy to use, work extremely well

Become VERY hot during use and heat up the hair a great deal

I actually bought the Nicky Clarke NCS15 Frizz Control Ceramic straighteners for my flatmate as a Christmas present as she has very thick, naturally curly hair which she has been trying to blow dry straight for years.

She noticed that steam straighteners weren't very effective on her hair as apart from not being gentle and ripping half her hair out, the steam also tended to make her hair frizz, countering the straightening effect.

So I browsed through the old Kays catalogue and saw these little beauties listed at £35, reduced from £50 so I thought 'ooh these must be decent' and click clicked on my mouse to place the order.

When they arrived I had a little peek and could see they were coloured silver with little lilac details (eg the buttons) and had long slim ceramic plates. There are 2 heat settings, I assume the higher one is for those with thicker hair.

On Christmas day they were greeted with a lot of enthusiasm and off she went to give them a try (bearing in mind it was first thing in the morning and the frizz was in effect with a vengeance!)

Cue more squeals of delight as the plates heated up almost instantly and as she slid them through her hair a miracle occurred!
In place of the frizz appeared beautiful, silky straight hair! She no longer looked like Monica in that episode of Friends where she went to Barbados and all her hair frizzed out!

The ultimate test came when we went on holiday to Spain as the humidity and messing about in the sea all day aren't exactly conducive to beautiful hair and previous experience had taught us that steam straighteners are a no-no on holiday.

So out came the Nicky Clarke's and lo and behold, they actually worked! My flatmate was over the moon! No more faffing about for 2 hours with the hair-dryer trying to look half decent for a night out, 5 minutes and she had salon-beautiful hair!

I was near to tears myself as I'd had a bit of a styling disaster so I was firmly sat on the chair while my mate ran the straighteners through and I was transformed!

I found that as well as having lovely hair, the style also lasted through the whole night which is completely unheard of for me.

So all in all, these straighteners are great! The only downside is that they get very VERY hot and they make your hair very hot as well so there is a very real chance of burning yourself as you work your way round, even on the lower setting.
I personally think this is a small price to pay for hair that stays straight and healthy-looking.

I have also recently checked the price of these again and Kays was selling them for about £20 so I will definitely have to invest in a set for myself. As I bought these for her the Christmas before last and are used a great deal, these have definitely stood the test of time. After 2 years of daily use, the plates are now starting to give out. they don't make the hair as smooth and still leave some frizz, as well as pulling out a little hair. But at the price is now so low, I think they are excellent value!

Members' Comments onbubblecat's Review

• sexiscouser on 18th Nov 2006

  With being half Chinese I have straight, very thick, long brown hair. When I was about 14 I decided to get it layered. BIG MISTAKE! The natural straightness was replaced when the end of my layers began to "poof" out. I was devastated, and I set out to buy a new pair of straighteners. I purchased the glass plated Vidal Sassoon straighteners, and these would straighten my hair for an hour at the most, then the kinks would take over.
  
  However, a solution was soon to be found as my auntie had been given the Nicky Clarke NCS15 Frizz Control Ceramic straighteners for her anniversary as a little extra something from my uncle. I was running late one day and got ready there. I borrowed the straighteners and my hair was transformed. It usually takes between half an hour and an hour to straighten my hair, even with GHD's, but with these it only took me fifteen minutes, and the effect lasted all night and until the next morning. I was ecstatic. I rushed out to buy them straight away, and I've never had such great hair. It's true that these do make the hair very hot, but if you cover your shoulders with a towel, or wear a dressing gown with a collar, it does not affect you. Also, they do not damage the hair. Trust me. I use them often enough to know!!!

• cuddlebareham18 on 17th Sep 2007

  Where did u buy the Nicky Clarke NCS15 Frizz Control Ceramic Straightener? Because, I also have curly hair.