Stylist Brian Le’s client list reads like a who’s who of Vietnam’s rich and famous, from pop stars and supermodels to top businessmen and women. Thomas Maresca speaks to Brian about beauty, style and why he feels he’s changing lives.
His two salons (with a third on the way) are the hottest haircutting addresses in Ho Chi Minh City. When the Miss Universe pageant came to Vietnam, Miss Venezuela (now Miss Universe) and other beauties turned to Brian Le.
When the prime minister’s daughter got married, it was Brian who did her hair and makeup. Pop star Truong Ngoc swears by him, as does supermodel Ngoc Thuy. He’s the only L’Oreal Ambassador to Vietnam and will soon star in a new VTV-3 reality series, Beauty Task Force X5 (X5 Biet Doi Lam Dep).
Indeed, despite his hardscrabble youth in Vietnam and as an immigrant in California, Brian Le is now living a charmed life.
How did you get into the haircutting game?
I studied to be a stylist in California. I started a business in my house, with only two chairs in the garage. Soon my customers were taking up all the parking around and the neighbours were complaining. So I borrowed some money from my roommate [pop singer] Thanh Ha, and opened my first salon in Orange County.
You had your own salon, but then you started working for another stylist? Why?
Honestly, if I kept working in Orange County, I wouldn’t be here today. In the Asian community, people didn’t update their skills, didn’t keep up with the trends. When my business was stable for five years, I decide to take off time and start as an assistant at Yuki Saroni, a very famous salon in Beverly Hills. Five dollars an hour! I needed to learn new skills.
How was it different there?
It wasn’t easy. When you go from Asian hair to Caucasian hair, they’re totally different—the texture, the hair fiber. My very first blow dry, the hair flew everywhere. I could not control it! I totally sweated. It was so expensive and she was a TV actress.
Why did you decide to come back to Asia?
I wanted to open a salon. A lot of my clients in the US would come here to sing, and every time they came back, their hair was ruined! I came in 2001, and after three months my face totally broke out because of the weather. The dust, the weather, everything—my skin totally broke out. I couldn’t stay anymore. I had to go back. It took me five years to make my decision to completely move back here. In April 2006, we had the grand opening of my salon.
What do you think about style in Vietnam?
People in Vietnam are still very traditional. They think long hair is beautiful. Yes it’s nice, but it depends on your features, on how tall you are
Another thing I noticed people here copy each other’s style a lot. The same style is everywhere. That’s why we don’t have any magazines in my shop. I look at the features, I decide the style.
What if the client wants a look you don’t agree with? What do you tell them?
I will tell them, “Take my advice or not. This does not suit you.” But if they still want it. I’ll do it.
With new styles, new colours, they’re scared—scared other people will say it’s too funky. Japan, yes. Bangkok, yes. But not Vietnam.
Not yet.
Not yet. That’s why X5 is coming!
Tell us what this Beauty Task Force X5 show is all about.
The show is very interesting. I think it will change the look of Vietnam. If you have a friend, or someone in your company that doesn’t know how to make themselves look beautiful, you can send us a letter. There are five of us experts. Every week we will choose a letter and change their life.
Does changing someone on the outside really change her life?
Outside, inside, how you think, how to do yoga, how you make yourself less stressed, how you eat, how you walk, how you look, how you talk to people, what to wear when you’re looking for a job. Everything. A to Z.
It’s going to be hot. A lot of people are going to like it. Every week we’ll have different stories, different contests.
Did you always want to be a hairdresser?
It’s a long, long story, why I became a hairdresser.
Can you tell me the short version?
I had a very, very tough life when I was a kid. I lost my mom when I was seven, my stepfather used to beat me up. I ran away from home and went to the barbershop. [The barber] gave me money and helped me out. I told myself when I grew up I wanted to be a stylist so I could help people too.
And now that’s my job. I’m born to make people beautiful.
That has got to be a challenge.
I love challenges!
Le Brian Salon
201 Calmette, District 1 HCMC
195 Nguyen Van Hoang, District 2 HCMC
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