It was greater than a decade in the past when a Northwest Arkansas mother of two based the kid’s water-primarily based nail polish line Piggy Paint.

The unhazardous, almost odorless, harsh-chemical-free product was forward of its time, its founder, Melanie Hurley of Bentonville, believes.

“Now, with all the education and … the social media, people are just more aware of the ingredients in their products,” Hurley says. “Now’s our time … mainstream [society] is finally looking for something like this. It’s exciting.”

Piggy Paint hit the market in 2009. Since then, the product has expanded into greater than 75 shade selections, reward units and even a scented assortment.

Online consciousness of the road has grown, additionally — “to just a ton of features from influencers and celebrities … [there’s] a lot of buzz,” Hurley says. She counts the road moving into Target shops as her largest accomplishment up to now … and the conclusion of a dream.

Piggy Paint retails for $four.99-$7.99 at Target and at piggypaint.com. Sets are $9.99 and up. What are the most well-liked shades? By far, “pinks and purples definitely sell the best,” Hurley says. But “still, people are loving glitter. We have a lot of glitter options.”

And, she says, youngsters aren’t the one Piggy Paint customers. When visiting commerce exhibits she encounters adults who’re sporting the product. One girl, she recollects, shared that she was too delicate to put on common, grownup nail polish. She wore Piggy Paint on her marriage ceremony day.

“It’s great to get feedback,” at these exhibits, Hurley says. “It’s nice to hear stories.”

She additionally enjoys seeing social-media photographs during which she’s tagged … photographs of infants and younger youngsters getting their first manicures and pedicures with Piggy Paint. That’s “such a fun bonding time for mom and child, so it’s really fun to see those pictures.”

Hurley started the road together with her two daughters, then ages four and a pair of, in thoughts. Now they’re youngsters … and so they’re serving to their mother run the corporate. They lately went together with her on a child superstar/influencer occasion in Los Angeles and painted fingernails. During summers, the ladies come to the workplace and assist in the corporate’s 10,000-square-foot warehouse. The women aren’t the one kinfolk working with the business: Hurley’s father, who’s retired, additionally works within the warehouse.

Hurley has additionally begun a hair-care line, Rock the Locks, on the request of consumers. The Three-12 months-outdated line is offered at Walmart in a value vary of $four.98 to $9.98. The merchandise are made within the United States, wealthy with important oils and, like Piggy Paint, are cruelty free.

“I feel super blessed that we’re still going … after all these years,” Hurley says.

Meanwhile, Hurley, a former trainer, enjoys visiting colleges and speaking to college students about entrepreneurship.

“Once a teacher, always a teacher,” she says.

COMING DOWN THE RUNWAY

• Listen up, Designers Choice Fashion Preview followers.The 13th annual incarnation of the fundraiser for the Timmons Arts Foundation takes place April four. Themed “DCFP Next: The Future Is Fashion,” the present will go on at 7318 Windsong Drive, North Little Rock. Guests are inspired to put on white, metallics, silver and grey. The VIP expertise (meet and greet with hosts, heavy hors d’oeuvres, VIP bar, VIP seating and swag bag) begins at 6:30 p.m.; the present begins at 7:30. Project Runway superstar designers are Korto Momolu and Brittany Allen; creations by Alyece Rodgers, Ambrea Brimmage, Cortez Miles, Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick, Tremaine Pollydore and Ty Jackson can even be featured. Tickets are $45-$75. Visit eventbrite.com.

“Crushing” is the theme of the seventh annual Passion for Fashion fashion present introduced by the Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 and slated for five p.m. April 26 on the Centre at University Park, 6410 W. 12th St. in Little Rock. The present will characteristic 4 scenes: Mardi Gras, Tuxedo, Soul Train Night and Denim Night. The present’s proceeds assist the Edwin L. Hawkins Scholarship Program. The Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 — the final class of juniors at Horace Mann when it was an all-black highschool in Little Rock — has awarded greater than $40,000 in scholarships during the last 16 years. Tickets are $20. Contact Carolyn Pledger Brooks (901) 289-3104 or Carl Vault (501) 416-6523.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week spring exhibits, which have been scheduled for April 16-18 in Bentonville, have been canceled. “Given the current and rapidly developing situation with the coronavirus, we feel it is no longer possible to pursue our expected level of production while also being able to ensure the safety and well-being of all our participants,” organizers state in an electronic mail. “We anticipate rolling all content planned for this season into NWA Fashion Week Fall 2020, which has been scheduled for Oct. 23-24 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.”

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Just a few assorted trend/magnificence objects to which I used to be lately launched:

Chrissy Medium Clear Game Day Handbag from Score! Designs, LLC (scoregamedaybag.com)

Deni Sciano, a San Antonio former trainer and advertising and marketing director, created her designer purse firm with heightened safety measures at sports activities stadiums and arenas in thoughts. Her clear luggage are available shade combos that accommodate many faculties, together with Yours Truly’s alma mater, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Maroon and Silver Chrissy purse, $59.99, is not your on a regular basis, simply-above-grocery-retailer-tote high quality. Having arrived meticulously wrapped, it bears the identical tremendous particulars that may be discovered on excessive-greenback, Sunday-go-to-meetin’ luggage. (Note: Democrat-Gazette consumers visiting the web site can get 15% off Score! Designs merchandise with the code arkdem15.

Noonday Collection earrings (noondaycollection.com)

I’ve been particularly pissed off in my makes an attempt, in recent times, to seek out goldtone costume jewellery that stays gold as an alternative of turning copper-toned. The apparent resolution to this downside: a return to brass jewellery. If it is brass jewellery from a good-commerce retailer, even higher. Noonday Collection, an Austin, Texas-based accent firm, presents handmade items by artisans in 14 nations. “Every item purchased helps someone in a vulnerable community earn a living wage through dignified work,” based on a information launch.

I have been having fun with 4 brass-earring samples from Noonday. Three types are from Kenya: the Golden Swell Earrings, $42, smaller, chain-held variations of the fortune-cooking-resembling Fulani hoop earrings; the Nairobi Earrings, $36, small, etched assertion earrings formed like open teardrops, however extra angular; and the Halycon Hoops, $38, hoops whose additional-lengthy French-hook posts create a vertical line down the middle of every earring and add to its fashion aesthetic. From India come the Legacy Earrings, $38, lengthy U-formed hand-solid earrings with intricate etched patterns. All are pretty. And all will keep gold.

Actsyl-Three Hair Growth Serum (Amazon.com; actsyl.com).

I have been sporting bun updos to cover a lake-formed bald spot on the prime of my head and more and more sparse hair in my temple areas, so I jumped on the supply of a pattern of Actsyl-Three. In addition to blocking DHT, the perpetrator behind hair loss in girls, the serum improves follicle thickness and well being and prompts hair stem cells. The serum comprises Redensyl and Capixyl, components confirmed to assist regrow hair; and key peptides to strengthen hair roots and enhance scalp well being. Coming in a 1-ounce bottle with dropper, Actsyl-Three sells for $25. Instructions say to drop a small quantity in affected areas and therapeutic massage into the scalp every day. I do not see myself regrowing the thick mane of my childhood, however, up to now, judging by photograph documentation, the lake is certainly shrinking right into a stream. I am going to proceed to make use of the product and provides a progress report subsequent column or so.

Ponyflo ponytail caps (ponyflohats.com).

Using Actsyl-Three has impressed me to vary my hairdos extra usually, and I am choosing extra ponytails. Which obtained me curious about Ponyflo, the Velcro-adjustable baseball caps made to accommodate ponytail hairdos. Ponyflo lately launched new, satin-lined ponytail caps in leopard and snake prints. Satin-lined hats are stated to moisturize hair, defend it from breakage, minimize the frizz and be anti- “hat-head.” The caps are frequently $29.99. I’ve obtained the black-and-white shiny snakeskin cap in addition to a strong black hat that I have been sporting to exercises.

Send all trend, magnificence and grooming-associated information releases to:

hwilliams@adgnewsroom.com

Piggy Paint, the unhazardous, harsh-chemical-free nail polish for youths based by Bentonville’s Melanie Hurley, is now greater than a decade outdated. It’s proven right here in Blackberry Jammers.
(Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Piggy Paint)

Polka dots rule the “Off to the Races” section of the 2019 Passion for Fashion Style Show, hosted by the Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 to learn its Edwin L. Hawkins Scholarship Program. The annual occasion will happen once more April 26.
(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Helaine R. Williams)

Bruce Davis designs are showcased throughout a section finale on the 12th annual Designers Choice Fashion Preview in 2019. This 12 months’s present — once more a profit for the Timmons Arts Foundation — occurs April four.
(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Helaine R. Williams)

High Profile on 03/15/2020