05/ 25/ 2006
by Jackie Ross
As a little girl in communist Vietnam, Luna Nguyen Howard heard about the abundant opportunities in the United States. She didn't know a word of English, but she knew she wanted to run her own business some day, and the land of the free was her best hope. So, at age 17, she boarded a plane to America, never imagining that almost two decades later she'd spend a week styling hair at the White House.
Howard's American dream started with beauty school shortly after she arrived in the States. She taught herself English and worked in Washington, D.C.-area salons until 2000. The D.C. market boomed with a large selection of upscale salons, and competition was tight. But Luna saw a niche.
"I wanted a place that was affordable for everyone to go to get a good, fast haircut," says Howard, who opened Luna's Hair Design six years ago.
With haircuts ranging from $25 to $30, the salon became a fast favorite among college students, Capitol Hill staffers and even journalists and legislators needing to fit quick cuts into their busy schedules. It wasn't long before White House staffers spread the word to first lady Laura Bush's staff and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove, who has been a client for four years.
Howard knew word of mouth would be her most successful marketing strategy, but she couldn't believe her ears when she received a message from Laura Bush's office two weeks before the 2005 Inauguration. Barbara and Jenna Bush wanted to try a new stylist for their week of public appearances, and Howard made the cut.
Throughout her White House visit, President George W. Bush dropped by to check on the girls. "Growing up in a communist country, I never dreamed that a regular person could end up in the same room as the president!" Howard says.
Like most small-business owners, she couldn't afford much time away from the office. So while she spent a week of mornings and afternoons at the White House, Howard returned to her salon between her sessions at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. "I still had clients to take care of and a salon to run." she says.
Clients love to tell Howard's presidential story, but even more impressive, they say, is her commitment to customer service. Despite her close encounters with the First Family, prices have remained steady at Howard's salon. "It never occurred to me to raise prices," she says. "I love what I do, and I love my clients. I would never do that to them."
She's bashful about discussing that week in January, saying her experience was more personal than professional. "Not a lot of people know about it, and I'm not out there to advertise it," she says. "I'll let my clients speak for my work." With references like Karl Rove and the Bush twins, Luna doesn't need much window dressing.
