You know that specific feeling when you walk into a nail salon, look at the wall of a thousand bottles, and immediately feel paralyzed? It's a real thing. But then, your eyes land on a name that makes you snicker just a little bit, and suddenly, the decision is made. That is the magic of OPI. Specifically, we're talking about OPI Is That a Spear in Your Pocket, a shade that managed to capture a very specific moment in the brand's history while remaining surprisingly wearable years later.
It’s a teal. But not just any teal.
It’s that moody, tropical-at-midnight cream that looks different depending on if you’re under harsh office fluorescents or catching the sunset on a patio. Launched as part of the 2017 Fiji Collection, this color wasn't just another blue-green hybrid; it was a statement on how OPI uses pun-heavy naming conventions to build a cult following. Honestly, if the name wasn't a bit of a double entendre, would it even be a classic OPI shade? Probably not.
The Story Behind the Fiji Collection and That Risqué Name
Back in 2017, the beauty world was obsessed with destination-themed launches. OPI decided to go all-in on the South Pacific vibe. The Fiji Collection was a twelve-shade lineup that ranged from the softest "mushy" pinks to high-voltage oranges. But OPI Is That a Spear in Your Pocket was the undisputed breakout star of the bunch.
Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, the co-founder and "First Lady of Nails," has famously steered the naming process for decades. She knows that a provocative name sells bottles. It’s a marketing masterclass. You aren't just wearing "dark teal." You're wearing a joke. You're wearing a conversation starter.
The color itself is a saturated, lush green-leaning teal. It sits perfectly in that "creme" finish category that OPI does better than almost anyone else in the industry. No shimmer. No glitter. Just pure, pigmented pigment that covers the nail in basically two coats. Some people swear they can get away with one, but let’s be real—for that deep, lagoon-like depth, you need two.
Why the Formula Actually Matters
Let’s get technical for a second, even though we’re talking about something as fun as nail polish. The reason people still hunt for OPI Is That a Spear in Your Pocket on eBay and discount beauty sites is the formula. This was released in the original Nail Lacquer, Infinite Shine, and GelColor formats.
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If you’ve ever used a cheap teal polish, you know the nightmare: staining.
You take the polish off after a week and your nails look like you’ve been gardening in radioactive sludge. It's gross. However, OPI’s formulation in this specific shade managed to pack enough pigment for opacity without that dreaded instant-stain effect, provided you’re using a decent base coat. It’s that balance of viscosity and flow. It doesn’t flood your cuticles unless you’re being really messy with the brush.
The brush itself is the ProWide brush. It’s iconic. It’s wide enough to cover a thumb in two strokes but flexible enough to hit the edges of a pinky nail. For many DIY manicurists, the brush is actually why they stay loyal to the brand over competitors like Essie (who eventually widened their brushes to compete) or Zoya.
Comparing the Teal Spectrum
People often ask how this compares to other legendary OPI teals. It’s a fair question. The brand has a literal graveyard of discontinued blues and greens.
If you put OPI Is That a Spear in Your Pocket next to something like Amazon... Amazoff, you’ll notice the Fiji shade is slightly more "tropical." It has a bit more green in it. It feels warmer. If you compare it to Yodel Me on My Cell, you lose the shimmer. This is a flat, sophisticated creme.
It’s surprisingly versatile.
You can wear it in the summer because it feels "beachy," but it’s dark enough to transition into autumn without looking like you’re clinging to a vacation that ended three months ago. It's basically a neutral for people who hate neutrals.
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The Cultural Impact of the OPI Pun
We have to acknowledge that the name is a play on the famous Mae West quote. It’s cheeky. It’s a bit "dad joke" energy, but in a way that works for the beauty industry. This specific naming convention is what helped OPI transcend being just a professional supply brand to a household name.
When you look at the 2017 Fiji collection in its entirety, names like Do You Sea What I Mean? and Getting Nadi On My Honeymoon set a tone. They sold a lifestyle. You weren't just sitting in a salon in a strip mall in Ohio; you were supposedly channel-hopping through the islands.
But does the name hold up? In a world of hyper-cautious corporate branding, OPI has occasionally pulled back on the more suggestive names, but "Is That a Spear in Your Pocket" remains a fan favorite precisely because it’s a little bit naughty. It’s a relic of a time when beauty branding felt a bit more playful and less like it was written by a committee of HR representatives.
Application Tips for the Perfect Teal Manicure
If you happen to find a bottle of this (and it's still out there in many professional salons), there are a few things you should know to get the best out of it.
- Prep is everything. Because this is a high-pigment teal, any ridges in your nails will show up. Use a buffer first.
- Thin coats. Seriously. Don't gloop it on. The OPI formula is designed to be built. Two thin coats will dry faster and last longer than one thick, swampy layer.
- The "Wrap" Technique. Take the brush and run it along the very tip of your nail edge. This "caps" the color and prevents that white line of wear that shows up after three days of typing on a laptop.
- Top Coat Choice. If you're using the regular lacquer, use the OPI Top Coat or something like Seche Vite. It brings out the "spear" green tones that can look a bit dull when the polish is dry but not yet sealed.
Is It Still Relevant?
You might wonder if a color from 2017 is still "in."
Trends move fast. We went through the "Clean Girl" aesthetic of sheer pinks, and now we're seeing a return to "Mob Wife" aesthetics and bold, moody colors. Teal is a cyclical color. It never truly dies.
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Moreover, OPI Is That a Spear in Your Pocket has become a reference point for "the perfect teal." When nail influencers on TikTok or Instagram look for dupes of newer, limited-edition colors, they often hold them up against this bottle. It is the benchmark. It has that specific "dusty but bright" quality that is incredibly hard to replicate perfectly.
Finding the Shade Today
Since it was a seasonal collection, it isn't always on the main rack at Ulta or Sephora anymore. But it's a staple in the "Permanent Collection" of many professional distributors. You can often find it on Amazon or through professional nail supply websites.
If you’re a collector, look for the black cap (regular lacquer) or the silver cap (Infinite Shine). The Infinite Shine version actually gives a slightly more "plump" look, mimicking a gel mani without the UV light. It’s worth the extra couple of dollars if you want that high-shine finish that really makes the teal pop.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Manicure
If you’re ready to dive into the world of OPI teals, start by checking your local professional salon's "Older" or "Seasonal" wall—they almost always have a bottle of this tucked away.
For the best results, pair it with a high-quality rubberized base coat like Orly Bonder to prevent the pigment from migrating into your nail plate. If you find the color is a bit too "green" for your skin tone, try a top coat with a slight blue tint to cool it down.
Ultimately, wearing a color like OPI Is That a Spear in Your Pocket is about more than just the aesthetics. It’s about the bit. It’s about the smile you get when someone asks what you’re wearing and you get to say the name out loud.
Grab a bottle if you find it. It's a piece of nail history that looks just as good today as it did on the Fiji beaches in 2017. Make sure you store it in a cool, dark place—teals and greens are notoriously sensitive to light and can "yellow" if left in the sun, and nobody wants a swampy spear. Keep it tight, keep the neck of the bottle clean, and that bottle will last you years.