Jackie Green Jelly
My friend Jackie recently asked me if I could make a dark green jelly for her. Green? Jelly? Well, my arm didn’t need to be twisted! I got to work, and whipped up a pretty color I thought she’d really enjoy. A few days later, as I was finalizing my blog entry, I received and email from reader Teresa, asking if I could make a polish similar to NARS Zulu. For those of you unaware, Zulu was a gorgeous dark green jelly that NARS released a few years ago around the holidays as a limited edition. Zulu still turns up on ebay occasionally, but it usually sells for $$$.
For this polish, I used Wet ‘N Wild clear, Wet ‘N Wild Black Creme, and New York Summer Amaranth.
I mixed 1/2 the clear polish with 1/2 NYS Amaranth. I added the black in a couple drops at at time, shaking and swatching in between, until I had the shade of dark green I was happy with.
I don’t have Zulu to compare, but from pictures I have seen, mine looks a bit lighter. I was considering adding more black to darken it up, but after doing a mani with it, I’m happy with it just how it is.
The picture was taken without a top coat on the polish, so you can see how shiny it is on it’s own. I can see why Zulu was so popular…and hopefully this quick & easy franken can help out those craving Zulu.
March 8, 2009 at 11:44 AM
This is very close if not dead on. I don’t own zulu but have seen it on some blogs. Your duplication is nice though and makes me want to wear green polish. lol
March 8, 2009 at 12:40 PM
OMG that’s absolutely divine!!!
I’m going to try this with some UK available polishes, I made a dark green creme about the same darkness but this is just sooooo much better!! You rock, Dr! 
March 8, 2009 at 12:49 PM
this is so nice!! you get better and better every day!
March 8, 2009 at 1:51 PM
That’s just stunning, my dear Dr. Frankenpolish!
March 8, 2009 at 2:01 PM
That’s a realy nice looking jelly polish!
March 8, 2009 at 2:07 PM
That is lovely! I’ve wanted a Zulu dupe for a while, and now I know how to make one — thank you for posting this! (I never would have thought to mix the green with clear and then add in the black, but now it makes all the sense in the world!)
March 8, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Where can you buy NYS polishes?
March 8, 2009 at 2:09 PM
That is the most perfect rendition I have seen! Amaranth is great for frankening.
March 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
oh wow! that does look like jelly. haha.
March 8, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Hi Dr Frankenpolish. That’s a beautiful green. I would also love to see a franken of Essie Starry Starry Night.
March 8, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Dr. F., I’m so impressed! I hope you don’t mind that I posted a link to the MUA NB because this is just amazing.
For those who were wondering, New York Summer polishes are sold at transdesign.com – they are VERY affordable.
March 8, 2009 at 6:10 PM
How beautiful your nails look. I’ve seen Zula swatched on a blog also. It looks the same to me. Another polish you could sell.
March 8, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Just beautiful ! I love the jelly look of this polish.
March 8, 2009 at 8:53 PM
You did it! You really did it! You duped NARS Zulu better than I have ever seen anyone else attempt to do it! I’m thoroughly impressed and I can’t wait to try it myself. Thank you soooo much!!!
March 8, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Thanks, guys!!! <3
I always love suggestions…they seem to turn into some of my favorite frankens!!!
March 8, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Have been following your wonderful site for a few weeks. I am inspired to try frankening after seeing that beautiful green!
March 8, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Oh my, that’s beautiful
I second the earlier commenter- where can I get NYS polishes?
I adore your blog- it makes me feel like I can make all these lovely polishes myself
Now I just need to get some empty polish bottles…
xoxo
March 9, 2009 at 5:43 AM
Oh my, that’s beautiful
I second the earlier commenter- where can I get NYS polishes?
I adore your blog- it makes me feel like I can make all these lovely polishes myself
Now I just need to get some empty polish bottles…
xoxo
OH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi
March 9, 2009 at 6:13 AM
Wow! Sooooo deeeeeep….
You’re a genius!!!
March 9, 2009 at 7:28 AM
NYS brand is carried at Transdesign.com
They sell Nailtek, OPI, China Glaze, and Essie, too! Their prices are very reasonable if you plan to order a few things. I think I paid about $9 for shipping on an order of 15 polishes!
March 9, 2009 at 8:59 AM
That looks amazing! And I don’t even like Zulu =O
March 9, 2009 at 9:05 AM
i feel so honored!!! it is a truly magnificent green jelly! (= we need to put you into production mode – put you on TD with your own section on coming franken attractions! lol
March 9, 2009 at 11:06 AM
really really nice polish!!!!
March 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM
I wish i could buy it! And I would love to see a franken from Sally Hansen Forsythia
Thanks for sharing the recipe
March 9, 2009 at 3:06 PM
i love it!
March 9, 2009 at 9:45 PM
my amaranth looks a little more like a blue-green compared to yours. perhaps mine was from a bad batch?
March 9, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Stephanie,
I’ve gone through about 5 or 6 bottles of Amaranth, and they’ve all been green creme. It’s possible you did get a bad batch, or if you bought it from a beauty supply store, they may have “frankened” it themselves
March 10, 2009 at 10:22 AM
omg, it’s stunning!
March 10, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Would love to see a similar blue and purple one!
March 12, 2009 at 7:17 AM
I just made my very own zulu following your recipe. thanks so much for killing this lemming. I have wanted that color for years, and based on swatches i’ve seen this is pretty darn close.
March 12, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Breathtaking – I’ll need to try this one too.
March 13, 2009 at 7:57 PM
That is beautiful!! I have just started following the nail polish blogs and they are wonderful. I thought I was the only one who loves nail polish, but apparently I was wrong. I saw a swatch of Zulu the other day and fell in love! I have to try this one, thanks so much!
March 13, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Where do you get your empty bottles? I really like them.
March 17, 2009 at 8:46 PM
I just bought 2 bottles of Amaranth from Transdesign, and I am having the same problem as the previous commenter, Stephenie. Both bottles are more of a blue-green jelly, definitely not a green creme. And there are some stray glitters. It’s very strange.
May 4, 2009 at 7:41 PM
i made mine with sinful san fran instead of aramanth- same color just sparkly! yay!
May 11, 2009 at 7:23 AM
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December 20, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Really nice shade, and I love how shiny it is. That’s what’s great about jellies.
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