Dior Sailor Nail Polish from Summer 2014 Transatlantique Collection
As a lover of all things nautical, when I heard that Dior was releasing a summer collection with nail polishes named Sailor, Yacht and Captain, I was all, “count me in!” That they come with nautical themed nail art stickers had me even more intrigued. You know I can’t resist a blue so, for all my fellow Nauti Girls, this review of Dior Sailor is for you!
Formula & Application
Dior nail polish is 5-Free (Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor) The rectangular glass bottles are topped with a mirror-like chrome finish cap that comes off to reveal an inner ribbed cap that tapers just slightly at the top so it’s a bit smoother than Chanel’s.
Dior polishes include a flat paddle style brush with firm, curved bristles, similar to Sally Hansen Insta-Dri & Complete Salon Manicure brushes. This style of brush has it’s pros and cons; it gives great coverage but if it isn’t cut perfectly it can be hard to create clean edges near the cuticle. The firmness of the brush can also cause dragging if you use too hard a touch.
Sailor applies with a jelly-like quality that indicates that it might be kind of sheer. And on the first coat, you might expect to need multiple coats but all you need is two coats for flawless coverage.
Dior Sailor is an indigo-leaning royal blue with a hint of bright blue shimmer. You see the shimmer in direct light but otherwise, not so much. Also, because it dries with a satin finish and is such a vivid color, I suspect there is some neon pigment in the mix. The first pic below is without top coat so you can see how it dries.
Now we’ve seen a lot of bright blues so far this year but this is probably the darkest and more purple toned of them all. The closest match I have is Milani Blue Zoom though this is a bit darker.
Dior Sailor
Dior Sailor
Dior Sailor
Dior Sailor
So let’s talk about these nail stickers. The Dior Manucure Transat Duo comes with a sheet of 12 clear manicure stickers emblazoned with a white Christian Dior logo and stripes. I love the idea of this but appliques that aren’t made of nail polish can be difficult to work with.
Dior Transatlantique Couture Nail Stickers
Unless your nails are the right shape (mine aren’t) they just don’t lay flat. And while the bonus of polymer-based stickers is that you can pull them up multiple times for proper placement, with clear stickers it makes them a bit foggy. Between that and the fact that I just couldn’t get them smooth, they make for one severely ugly look.
Dior Sailor Couture Nail Stickers
So, I immediately pulled off the stickers and grabbed my white striper polish. And, let me just say, before the top coat smearing debacle, this looked perfect. But, since life is not perfect and I’m all about learning from my mistakes, I thought I’d share with you.
I used Nubar Diamont Top Coat and even though I waited 30 minutes, this happened. Nubar gives great wear but it’s not a friend to nail art. I should have used my HK Girl Top Coat since it’s such a favorite with nail art girls.
Dior Sailor Nautical Striped Nail Art
Bottom Line: If we’re just talking nail polish, I love, love, love Sailor. It’s rich and stunningly gorgeous. I just wish it was sold separately. Because, honestly, the stickers are a frustrating waste. Though still, at the end of the day, even if it was sold on its own, $25 for polish is a splurge when there are “similar” if not exact dupes out there for much less. So, while I wanted to be able to tell you to run out and get this duo, I can’t say it’s worth the price.
The Dior Transatlantique Collection was released as a Saks exclusive but it’s now available at Nordstrom.com and Sephora.com. The other two shades Yacht (beige creme) and Captain (red creme) are still available at Saks.com but Sailor is sold out. The Dior Manucure Transat Duo retails for $30.
What do you guys think of Sailor? Do you like value added sets like this and the beaded Jewel Manicure Duo from holiday? What is your favorite top coat for streak-free nail art?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Gorgeous polish.
Does it look like Dior Electric Blue?
I wish I could tell you for sure but I don’t have Electric Blue. Based on the Manicurator’s post, they aren’t the same http://www.manicurator.com/2014/03/dior-vernis-limited-edition-manicure.html
No. They are not exact dupes, as she points out with the swatches, but they are close enough for me, as I already own Electric Blue. Saves me 30 dollars. For me, that means I am having a great day! Thanks, Michelle, for the link, you are the best.
That is a stunning blue!
Maybe it’s not the most unique blue but it’s still gorgeously beautiful.
I experienced some smearing of nail art with HK Girl as well! Try KBShimmer Clearly On Top. In my experience, this is the most nail art-friendly top coat.
You did? I’ve never had that happen but I have heard good things about KBShimmer’s top coat.
I seriously love the polish, it looks so intense, I’ve been looking for a blue like this for ages. The stickers not so much, makes me wonder that for such a big company they don’t do a lot of testing on their products, to me those stickers are a fail!
I agree. I wonder who tested the stickers. I’ve talked to some pro manicurists who complain about what a challenge they are to work with. What hope do us civilians have?
I love that color! I hate nail stickers! I have some Chief Wahoo ones and I have never been able to use them without cutting the imagine out and nail gluing it on top of my polish and then topcoating over it. The method in which they tell me to apply them might work if I was adhering them to Paper!
Dang, sold out at Saks already? I went to Dillards on Friday to buy Sailor, and they had all 3 shades. HTH someone reading the comments …
I agree the colour is beautiful but doubt I’d have much use for the stickers
This is a gorgeous blue, but for me to spend that much on a nail polish it would have to be a really unique color that I couldn’t get anywhere else. And I don’t know what they were thinking with those stickers! GROSS!
This blue is so gorgeous…my favorite color to wear on my nails! When I saw the first images and swatches online, I was 100% sure I wanted to buy it…but when I realized I could only buy it with the stickers for $30, I decided to sit this one out :/ I’m glad I did now that I see how rough the stickers are!
I love this blue polish but it’s pretty expensive. Oh the pain. Why are some of the most beautiful polishes so much? Do you know of any good dupes? And I live the nail art.
Pity the stickers are a fail otherwise the blue is insanely gorgeous.
what about Nails Inc Baker street? Looks pretty close or Jinsoon Cool Blue?
Someone messaged me that Baker St might be discontinued. I HOPE that’s not the case. And they are both just a little off from Sailor.
I love that blue, but w/o a job, I can’t justify that price right now. The stickers are intriguing but I know i wouldn’t have the right shape nails to pull off the look ( i have hands the size of a young child). That being said, do you think the appliques could be cut, say for just the stripes or just the CD logo?
Hi Christen! I’m sure you could cut the stickers but it kind of defeats the purpose of them being easy to use.