When did Michelle Obama become a regular client?

During her first year of college, when I was 28. She came to the salon about every two weeks for much of her adult life.

For what major events did you style her hair?

Her wedding, the first Iowa primary, the election night celebration in Grant Park in 2008, and I styled her, her mother and both daughters during all the first inauguration events. She wanted me to move to D.C., but my partner convinced me to stay here.

Your favorite style for her?

She was always conservative, but for the Iowa primary I gave her a layered flip.

Why the name Van Cleef?

The shape of my original reception desk reminded me of my bottle of Van Cleef & Arpels cologne. I thought the name of an old and prestigious company would represent the image I wanted for the salon.

How did you get into hairstyling?

Job prospects in psychology (his college major) weren't good for a man of color, so I got my cosmetology license and was hired at Vidal Sassoon in Water Tower. I was the only black stylist, and the next thing I knew, my name blew up.

Speaking of names, how'd you get the nickname Rahni?

When I first started at Vidal Sassoon, I was asked to choose another name because there was another Michael. My manager, a British fellow, said in his heavy British accent, "You look like a Ronny to me." I decided to spell it the way he pronounced it, because it was more creative.

What was your childhood like?

I was the 10th of 13 children. We grew up on the West Side in a low-income housing community. My dad worked in the Armour factory, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. Eventually we were able to "move on up" to Maywood.