Swing Organic Salon in New York, NY

This is a top-tier experience in a cozy East Village salon where each client gets the full attention and hair styling experience from the owner. The benefits of Luis's 20 plus years as a stylist and 12 years as an organic colorist make this salon well worth the visit. Luis's color products are 100% organic and his knowledge of how to work with the product are impeccable and highly specialized. He gives his client's vibrant, long- lasting and free from harmful chemicals' colors that they love.

Being more conscious of products I use and wanting to limit the chemicals I expose my body to, I googled organic natural salons. Swing was the most affordable choice, had overall good reviews, and a huge bonus, it was in my neighborhood. I was still hesitant to spend so much money, but I figured it had been a year and a half since my last haircut and I deserved to treat myself. Also, there wasn't a huge selection of organic salons. First impression walking in was that it was not the cleanest salon, but it is also the EV, so I wanted to give Luis the benefit of the doubt because of the good reviews and his use of organic products. There were three other ladies there when I arrived for my appointment, and Luis apologized for running behind. I wasn't in a hurry, so I said it was fine. When he finally sat me down, he quoted me $10 more than he had when I emailed him to make the appointment. He said he didn't remember the email, but the difference wasn't that much so he would honor the price he quoted in the email. When coloring my hair, he seemed a little hurried and sloppy with the coloring cream, but again, I tried to look past it. However, when it came time for my cut, he refused to cut my hair the way I wanted it cut, and told me I shouldn't be parting my hair on just one side all the time. I couldn't believe it! At that point I decided I did not trust him to cut my hair, so he just blow dried it. Then, when I pointed out that my color was more orange/red than I had wanted, him and another client that was there started going off on me! I am still in complete shock of the experience I just had. I really tried to give this solo/small business a chance, but for that kind of money and 30 years experience, I expected a lot more.

First of all I had been in the Fashion business a long time and I used to get my haircut from the most talented hairstylist stars out there. But since I stopped working there 10 years ago I have not had a decent haircut. I finally made my way over to Swing for some color which was great you just have to be very careful with your hair ialways even with a more natural dye. I went back there and I have to say this is really the best haircut that I've had in 10 years! I will continue going there for a trim again and again because I'm growing out from a bad haircut for like the past year now. I finally saw what a great haircut looks like after 10 years of being out of the fashion business, thank you so much Luis!

I'm really sorry to write this review. I waited 2 months, but after spending a lot of money at this salon, I feel I have to say something. First of all, Louis is a great person and very eco-friendly. His blow-out was great. Unfortunately, my hair color turned orange after a day, and even when I returned for a correction (and more $$, though Louis did give me a big discount and was very accommodating), the toner did not remove the orange. I had to find another salon and pay more money to fix my orange hair. I thought maybe the hair dye just did not work with my hair, but the other salon used the same brand with much better results. Again, I'm sorry to write this but I feel so bad for spending so much money at this salon for something I did not like at all.

When I first visited Swing Salon around six years ago, I was freaking out about gray hairs making their first appearance on my full head of dark brown hair. Seeing as I do not use chemicals in my home or on my body, I googled "natural salons NYC" and Swing came up. I paid Luis a visit and he gave me a free consultation which consisted of him looking at my hair and telling me I didn't really need to start dying my hair yet for the small amount of grays I had. I was flabbergasted, no one had ever denied my business in such an honest way. He said to come back in a few years if/when I got more grays. Fast forward four years--after using henna/indigo with mixed results, I was back at Swing and this time I was ready for a real remedy. Luis has been dying my hair ever since, for over three years now, and it's the best salon experience I've ever had. Over those years he's also cut my hair in various styles and lengths. His casual, no frills salon is comfortable and welcoming. His pricing is fair and comparable with/or better than the toxic hair coloring happening around the neighborhood and across the city. This is the longest relationship I've ever had with a hair dresser and one that I cannot say enough good things about. Women (and men) go to Swing for a natural approach to haircare and stay because Luis is a great person, and one they feel good about supporting.