NARS Zulu Nail Polish Swatches, Review & Comparisons
She’s here – the mythical, mysterious, much coveted NARS Zulu!! I have had to sit on this literally for a few months now, and it’s been killing me since I know lots of you have been wondering about it!
Zulu came out a few years ago as a limited edition color. This was a color I missed and from what I have heard it sold out quickly, started selling on eBay for astronomical prices and has been a “holy grail” polish ever since. Well now NARS has brought it back as part of their Vintage Nail Collection for Fall 2010. The colors in this collection include:
- Mash – Army green with gold shimmer (my swatch here)
- King Kong – Copper brown with gold shimmer
- Midnight Express - Dark navy creme
- Zulu – Dark forest green jelly
- Full Metal Jacket – Gunmetal grey metallic
This collection is limited edition. Stores will sell it for 3 months and NARS will sell it on their website until they run out of stock.
I have to say I was pretty impressed with Zulu. Normally when I hear about something for years, whether it’s a movie, restaurant, book, I am usually disappointed with it once I watch/eat/read/wear it. But Zulu is really an amazing color and texture.
Something else kind of funny is when I unpacked it then applied it, Mr. VV was like “Oooh, that’s a really cool color” and he RARELY says anything about my nail polish. 
Zulu
Zulu is a deep, dark green jelly. It doesn’t look black indoors, but most definitely very dark. It’s soooooooooo shiny also! This is with no top coat and look at that shine. I had zero application issues. It flowed really nicely and was very smooth, no streaks or patches. Of course since it’s a jelly you are going to need to build up the color and after three coats I had this color above.
This is with the flash on so you can really see the green jelly.
And now for some comparisons. It’s long been said that Zulu is a dupe for Nfu Oh 569. I recently purchased 569 and did some comparisons.
L to R: 569, Zulu
Zulu on pointer and ring and 569 on middle and pinky
Zulu on pointer and ring and 569 on middle and pinky
Now that you have seen them compared, what do you think? I think it’s pretty safe to call them dupes in my book. The one thing I can say is the formula of Zulu is much better, but it is also more expensive. Both required three coats but Zulu was much more even and less patchy than 569.
Overall:
I am very pleased that this color, for me, lived up to all the hype. It’s so rare that happens!
Ok so now that we have seen it, what do we think?
-VV
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a animal friendly beauty blog.
Woohoo! I have 569 so my wallet is safe!
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Hi EvilAngel,
Yes you are correct!
Ooooh….love this. I missed out on Zulu the first time around as well. I’ll definitely be picking this up. Do you happen to know if this is the same exact Zulu from before- or have they “tweaked” it?
Thanks for the comparison to NFU!
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Hi Jen,
Supposedly it’s the same one.
Ooooo i love both colours!
Lacquer Boudoir´s last post…Swatches- ORLY Matte Vinyl
Hi Lacquer Boudior,
I have 569 and I still want Zulu. I don’t care! I have been excited about these polishes since I read about them being brought back. Oo Nars, I love you and your little dog too.
KrisInPhilly´s last post…Color Club Untamed Luxury
Hi KrisInPhilly,
Zulu’s formula is much better and yeah, it’s kinda legendary!
This is truly lovely! And it looks absolutely gorgeous on you!!! I wonder how it compares to Illamasqua Rampage?
Varnish Vixen´s last post…Steampunk Watch Ring & New Domain Name
polish-gasm!!! i literally caught my breath when i saw this post! thanks for posting
it is everything i hoped it would be, judging from your pictures and review <3
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Hi kelliegonzo,
Yay, glad you like it!
Would you think Zoya – Envy is a dupe?
Hi Ms. Maw,
Nope, not at all, sorry!
Hmm, I think I may have to buy a bottle or two…
Hi Amber,
I know, I kind of want a back-up also now…
Love this. Not sure I will purchase, but I do love it. Will you be swatching the others?
Hi SB_Sweetie,
I already swatched MASH awhile ago (it’s linked on the post) and might do the others when they come out (I don’t have them now).
Thanks. I just saw the Mash swatch. So gorgeous! I am curious about the others, too! So much hype!
Mash is totally fabulous also. That reminds me, I need to bust that out and wear it again soon!
So many polishes, so little time…:-P
yay! I’m so excited to finally get my hands on Zulu, it’s like one of those mystical polishes I thought I might never own. So glad Nars is putting it out again! Now if other companies would do that (Clarins) I would be a super happy camper
Hi Jen,
I am really glad they are bringing it back also so we can all try it. So many people missed out on it last time.
I have to buy Zulu, simply for the holy grail reasons, but I am far more excited about Mash! I am so looking forward to that!
Hi Melli,
You will love Mash, it’s sooooooo awesome
That’s great news! Thanks for the info… Zulu has grown on me. =]
Hi Naomi,
Do you think you are going to get it?
Can’t wait!!!
Deery Lou´s last post…A few thoughts on the subject by a little nothing
Hi Deery Lou,
Glad you like it
Gorgeous! I definitely want to get a few shades from this collection!
Hi Suji,
Which ones do you like the most?
you’re making me want this polish
amusedPolish´s last post…Yves Rocher Bleu Nuit gets a bit chunky with Claires
Hi amusedPolish,
You *need* it
Zulu is such a nice color!
I managed to find a national dupe, but it takes 4 coats…ugh…
I might consider buying that Nfu Oh!
Hi Sarah B,
Yeah 4 coats is a lot. The Nfu Oh is a great color just a little hard to get even looking.
I don’t even like “looks black in most lighting” colors, but I wouldn’t be a polish fanatic if I didn’t HAVE to buy this one.
I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!! I hope I can get my little fingers on it!
Wow! this Zulu is amazing!
I’d like to buy Midnight express, but if you find us a cheaper dupe…
I can’t wait to get both Zulu and Midnight Express!!!
Zulu! I need you.
Hi Kelly! I’ve heard _a lot_ about this color too. How does it compare to OPI Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow ? Thanks!
Hi Andrea,
Other than the fact they are green, there really isn’t much of a comparison actually. OPI’s is darker, more mossy and has shimmer. Hope that helps!
This one might – mind you, just MIGHT – make me break the $10/bottle barrier on nail polish.
thank you for the swatch, it might be a bit to dark for me after all, I am waiting for my illamasqua rampage and I’ll see later about this one… if they are close, $16 would be a lot too much to shell out!
Hi splattergirl,
It’s definitely darker and shinier than Rampage. Plus the jelly consistency leaves it looking pretty different. Here is my swatch of Rampage for reference: http://www.vampyvarnish.com/2009/06/13/illamasqua-nail-polish-and-giveaway/
I have waited so long for Zulu! It’s absolutely gorgeous and I cannot wait to get it and Mash as I love olive greens! The shine on Zulu is phenom! Thank you!
I’m fall in love with this perfect green!
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i wonder if the formula is different from the original.
but this is definitely a new lemming for me.
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Hi Candi,
According to a NARS person I emailed no it’s not, but I never used the original so not sure.
Zulu schmulu – give me that navy creme! I’m a sucker for a good navy polish!
Such a beautiful green colour !
Thanks for the swatches and review! 
It’s very pretty. So jelly…
One more to my wish list.
What gets me about your great Nars Zulu pictures is just how different it looks in the bottle to on the nail. I don’t understand how something that looks so bright in the bottle can look so dark on the nail… I don’t generally do jelly polishes – is it perhaps often the case with them?
It reminds me of OPI’s Here Today Aragon Tomorrow. I can’t wait to get this color. When is the exact release date?
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Hi Carinae L’etoile,
The release date is in the post
I wonder if NYC’s Flat Iron Green dupes Zulu. I’m so tempted, thought I probably wouldn’t care and go buy one Oct 1 LOL!
Will you be swatching the rest of the collection? I would love to see them!
My jaw dropped when I saw Zulu….its gorgeous! And the creamy texture is gorgeous….Nars now has 2 polishes that I must have!
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Do you know around when these will be up for sale?
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Nevermind. I just reread the bottom of your post. Silly me!
Mandy´s last post…Good grief
Awesome! I can’t wait, I’ve calendared the date!
Vampy, we know that we want it. It’s ICONIC! I’d buy it just to have it, but on top of the “holy grail” to it, it’s GORGEOUS!!! I wasn’t obsessed with nail polish when it came out the first time, and I feel like I’d be a fool to miss it the second time around. I’d do the same for Clarins 230 or Essie’s Starry Starry Night. There are just some polishes you *have* to have! Thanks for the post! I heard from KellieGonzo that you got this a while ago so I am super excited that you finally got to post it!
Zulu is perfect and I agree is a dupe of the Nfu Oh, but the shy is different.
In fact, the whole collection has great shades and I would like to see swatches of them all.
I just ready today on ALU that this collection is coming out on October 1 on both the Nars website and at Sephora. Do you have an update?
Hi maria,
She is correct, it’s October. My NARS rep never got back to me if they changed the Sept 24th date, which apparently they did.