Swing Organic Salon

The salon owner has a terrible attitude. Like the others, I found him moody and rude. Too bad that this is in such contrast to a commitment to organic products — somehow the philosophy of care and respect does not carry over in the way this place treats its customers! Disappointed.

I found this place using Google. I needed corrective color and I didn’t want to put any more chemicals in my hair. I took a chance and went for a consultation on my lunch hour and booked an appointment for a color and cut that evening. Luis fixed my hair in one shot! No toners and no hair dyes that burned my scalp and eyes. He gave me a great hair cut too and I was in and out in under two hours.

excellent experience at swing! this is a true EV gem!
i have fine, shoulder length naturally dark blonde hair with bangs.
pretty simple.
somehow i decided earlier this spring to try some highlights. i started losing hair like crazy right after and i absolutely hated the streaky, fake look. my poor hair was fried, i felt like i was going bald, and i looked like a ratty barbie. not good.
i patiently waited a few months, was super gentle with my hair, let the roots grow, etc.
finally i could not take the wierd straw-​like ombré look i had going on any longer — - i have walked past swing many times and always liked the laid back atmosphere.
called up and luis said he could see me a few hours later.
he took a look at my hair, prepared me for the shock of being a bit darker blonde again, and proceeded to mix.
an hour (and of lovely glass of cognac courtesy of luis) later i had beautiful dark golden hair, hiding all those nasty highlights and making me feel like myself again. the best part is that there was no burning, no chemical smell, and my hair feels so nice and soft, yet it has volume— even after a wash!!!
Luis also gave me a bang trim, and i am VERY VERY VERY PICKY about my bangs. i am very happy with them, he did a perfect job. clearly a very experienced and skilled colorist and hairdresser
i love that he never tried to sell me a product, but i was super excited to try the kevin murphy line so i bought some anyway.
i cannot recommend Luis & Swing enough! this is definitely my new go-​to salon!!!
its cash only– just a heads up! deli on the corner of 1^st has an ATM :)

I found this place via Unilocal.I wanted something cozy (yes, the environment does mean a lot to me), organic and obviously professional. I got my hair dyed ombré, a trim and a blowout. Honestly, probably the friendliest (but not one of those fake ones) calmest and most honest services I have ever gotten at a beauty salon. My hair came out better than excpected (and it smells amazing too!). Would recommend to everyone!

First to start off I have thick straight long hair, seems that the experience with curly hair hasn’t gone too well. I was surprised at reading some of the comments about Luis because when I made my appointment he asked me what I wanted and again on the day of my cut he asked me again. I even had a picture and showed him I told him bad experiences I’ve had before because people seem to like to experiment with scissor thinners which I don’t need and I don’t like V shape. He was the first person that ever gave me my long layer haircut 10yrs ago which I loved and I’m so glad he’s back. He uses Moroccan products, not sure if the shampoo and conditioner were also same brand but it smell great like peppermint that left me refreshed and the massage was awesome perfect pressure, if you had a long work week I recommend it. I would give it a 5 star but I’m giving it a 4 due to the following. But I love the way he cuts MY TYPE OF HAIR and I am definitely going back.
1– Wash– water splashed on my face and bit on my arm he said it was the water pressure which makes sense but I’m still debating he didn’t try to give me another towel and was a bit clumsy about it. So don’t wear something nice if you come here but then again why would you? You are getting a haircut.
2– The salon itself– Music is old swing music which I enjoyed but it was a bit too loud, it’s not dirty as someone mentioned but it needs a wall painting, place is new but seems like they just moved into an old place. The display of products that he sells could be inside a glass display to make it more neat.
Something to keep in mind– I came here on a Sunday and he books people before hand and schedules the next person according to what he has to do, that way his attention is on you when you get there for your appointment. It’s not like your typical salon that has 5 chairs and 4 hairdressers standing around chatting waiting for someone to show up and in less than an hour you are out the door wondering what just happened.
Hope this helps!

I love supporting small business which is what led me to this salon rather than the usual salons I frequent that specialize on curly hair products and styling. I have very curly hair, and I normally wear my hair curly on a daily basis but was due for a cut, fresh color and a blow dry before a scheduled trip.
1) This salon is very small, no problem but could honestly use a little cleaning there is an off-​putting smell that is not appealing, dirt and dust everywhere.
2) The color was fine, dark and as close to my natural hair as possible, no problem here either.
3) The blow-​drying part: this is where I get disappointed. Luis added about 6 – 8 handfuls of argan oil to my hair. I told him I have really thin hair and to please not add so much oil because that just makes my hair look dirty and heavy. He looked annoyed and just said, «trust me, this will not make your hair look oily, your hair is so curly it will absorb it all» then proceeded to add MORE oil, disregarding my wishes. Throughout he mentioned time and time again how difficult curly hair is to dry. His exact words were «wow, blow-​drying this hair is a work-​out, like going to the gym». Second comment on my hair, «this is going to be tough to get straight, you should leave it fuller, with volume». Then as we are mid-​way with the drying process I mention that I would like my hair to look straight, a look many times achieved by other hair dressers; to which Luis states «well, you should have told me from the beginning». His attitude was unnecessary and rude. News flash: It’s your job to ask ME how I would like my hair done, not just assume.
If you are looking for well-​done color, sure come here. If you are curly-​haired looking for good service, please frequent another establishment. I spent $ 215.00 (not bad for an empty salon on a Wednesday) and left feeling like curly hair is undesirable and I’m just tired of getting this type of treatment when I am paying, just like everyone else. Definitely won’t be going back.

After having a few less-​than-​professional experiences with organic hair color, I am thrilled to have found Swing Salon. The color is the best I’ve had, and I’ve been going with organic for a few years now. It looks so good, and so natural, I’ve almost forgotten how grey I am going (ha ha)… The haircut was very good too, and not at all slow and fussy. It’s hard to get both — good color and a good cut — at the one place, so I’d have no hesitation recommending anybody to go to Swing Salon. Luis is a true professional. I really like the homey feel of the salon, too. Its not corporate and soulless like so many salon experiences.

Before coming to Swing Salon, I used to cycle through colorists/​stylists every year because they would become careless after a while.
Well, I finally found someone that does a great job every time!
I have been seeing Luis, the owner, for over 4 years now and I will never stop.
The color is perfect every time. He uses great organic products that never make my scalp itch.
His styling skills are very good – I get my hair cut every 3 months and the cuts always grow out well.
The place has a good vibe, good energy there. I love being there and feel like I could hang out there forever because he doesn’t use harmful, toxic chemicals and Luis is so nice.
And by the way his other clients are also decent people which is important when you are sharing a small space.
I think the prices are very good for what you get. An ethical, environmentally conscious, highly skilled, stylist/​colorist is a rare commodity these days.
I wholeheartedly recommend you visit this salon.

I call my color Yukon Gold, because of the vegetable extracts used in the coloring. And because it is a beautiful color. My hair has NEVER been healthier.
This is the only place to get your hair colored! Luis uses natural dyes. They are safe and good for your hair.
Yes, the little shop on the Lower East side is cute and you can get a very good cut but it is by far the best choice in the greater New York area for color. Luis is generous with his time and services. He’s nice. The music is soothing but never boring. And it’s a great neighborhood for eating. There are many good reasons to go to SWING. I go there from New Jersey and highly recommend it!
Go now for your health and beauty!!!
PS If you are pregnant or otherwise concerned about your wellbeing, stay out of the other salons, this is the safe option!

This is not your hype agitated dance music kind of salon… They were playing chill music, the color dyes are all organic and the products they use on your hair are all natural and have great quality. It was my first time with the natural color and I like it! My hair looks shiny and healthy. Luis did a great job with my haircut.
I left the Salon feeling pretty with no kinky chemicals involved!

I love this salon. It is the only (official) certified green salon in the city. Luis uses the best, high quality products and always includes a blow out with your color or cut. This place is no frills but for the care and quality you get, it is well worth it. My hair has never been healthier.
Luis never tries to sell you anything (even though he uses very good products) and gives you free tips that you can do at home to keep your hair healthy. This is the only salon I have ever been to where they don’t try to tell you how your previous hairdresser screwed up your hair and then proceed to pressure you on buying product to «repair» it. Support this business! It’s a total gem.
P. S. You can also tell how healthy the air quality is by how many living plants Luis has there. Live plants =no toxic fumes/​ammonia. I love going here and am a loyal patron now for about a year.

I had a pretty good first experience at swing salon, my hair not only feels but looks amazing. I should start off by saying that I’m Puerto Rican and my hair is pretty unruly, to say the least. The last time I dyed my hair, i did it myself with the John Frieda precision foam, shame on me, and it completely damaged my hair. Luis did his best at matching and restoring my hair color. Overall amazing experience, I only wish that the color wasn’t so heavily concentrated on my roots.

Unfortunately, it seems the salon may have gotten its name from the owner’s mood problems. He started out friendly enough. Then when his young daughter, whom he was babysitting at the salon, started playing a noisy video game things took a sudden swing to the dark side. She sweetly asked if it was too loud, offering to turn down the volume. I said thank you, that would be nice. He talked over me and told her no, it’s fine.
He was washing my hair and I had been complimenting him on the salon’s commitment to green products. I asked if he could play some music (which was typical in past visits) to help cover the loud blips and bleeps form the video game. He ignored me! I politely asked again about some music, at which point he threw up his hands and actually said he would not cut my hair. He also accused me of not liking children?! I reminded him that my hair was already wet, and that I had an event to go to that I was getting my hair done for. He dramatically re-​stated that he would not cut my hair. He told me maybe he could do it some other time when **I** was in a better mood! Needless to say, there won’t be another time for me. I was already giving him a second chance, since the last time I had my hair cut there he nipped my ear with the scissors. Methinks I’ll have to find another green salon.

I went into Swing yesterday after not having had my hair cut for over 4 months. It had grown out to flowing waves and rings on top and I loved it, but it was unruly on the sides and back.
What I asked Luis for: to leave everything on top. Clean up the sides and back. Give me contrast between the top and the sides/​back.
What Luis did: cut the hair on top from 6 inches to 1.5 inches (!!!). Cut the sides and back with scissors to the equivalent of a 3 guard buzz cut.
Now I am: a grown man ready to cry about his hair.
I paid: $ 55, instead of the $ 45 quoted online & over the phone.
Ladies, yes, more expensive places abound. Guys, this was exactly what I could’ve gotten for $ 12 elsewhere. But with better smelling products used.

I have to say, this is one of the best salon experiences I’ve ever had.
I’ve always hated getting my hair cut. I cried as a kid, loathed as a teenager, and now procrastinate until the ends are *crispy* as an adult. However, with the help of Luis at Swing Salon, my fears have been minimized.
He didn’t lecture me on not getting my hair cut for a year. He didn’t lecture me on using boxed dye. He didn’t push products. He didn’t make exasperated comments about how thick and difficult my hair is. He made pleasant conversation and confirmed what he was cutting every step of the way.
It’s been several weeks since the cut and my hair looks awesome! How the cut looks after it’s grown out a bit is always the test for me, cause of course it looks okay after the stylist styles it! The bangs have started growing out nicely, the layers swingy and awesome. I’m very pleased.
Oh, and can we talk about the blow dry? This was the best blow dry I’ve ever had. Thorough, gentle, and with great attention to detail. My hair was bouncy, shiny, and full of life, not dull, sticky, and weighed down by products.
This is a great salon if you are looking for someone who listens to your concerns, doesn’t make you feel bad about your haircare habits, and won’t euthanize you with toxic chemicals in the process. Recommend.

I’m a little biased here, because the owner, Luis, has been cutting my hair for 12 years. I’ve followed him through 2 boros and something like 7 shops over the years until he finally got his own shop, and he deserves success. Why?
–First of all, he is the most amazing colorist I have ever met. I’ve seen his work on other clients and he’s nothing short of a miracle worker. I’ve seen him do color corrections on folks who had totally fried their own hair and he restores them totally. Some of his clients are models who make their money with their looks, and they trust him for a reason.
–He does great cuts for any length hair. I have a short cut, and he’s the ONLY person I’ve met who can do a short girl’s cut that lasts 6 weeks without looking messy or overgrown.
–If you become a regular, he will bend over backwards to accommodate your schedule. In the past, he once squeezed me in during a blizzard (!!!) when I had the very sad event of having to travel for a family funeral and had to be there, in good shape, for the folks. On a happier event, he also has squeezed me in on a busy weekend when I was about to start a new job.
–He also does amazing straightening jobs.
–They finally take credit cards! They also sell a great variety of upper-​end natural hair care products. I am now officially addicted to the entire Kevin Murphy styling line.
–Most important: He LISTENS. He will check in with you during a cut to make sure that it’s going the way you want it to. Ditto for color jobs. No «oh, crap, not what I expected!» here.
For those bitching about the price: He’s still charging a LOT less than surrounding salons in this ‘hood. He was the FIRST salon on the block when the space that he’s in now was a crappy, broken down copy shop. He rebuilt it from the walls up, and the rest of the block moved in around him. Just ask up front and he’ll tell you what your bill will be. Just know that like any other salon, most services are based on the length of your hair, so if you say you need a color correction and have «medium length hair» and you show up with longer hair, ask him once he sees you in person and everyone will know what to expect.
Best time to go: He’s actually around on Sundays, and the vibe is mellow and relaxed. Otherwise do call ahead as he gets busy on evenings and weekend evenings.

An East-​Village Treasure!
I couldn’t disagree more with the negative review.
The prices *start* at $ 40 per cut which is on the sign outside. Luis is honest and flexible with prices while offering honest advice. He’s an incredible artist whom I actually used for my wedding a couple of months ago. I also must mention the numerous compliments I received!
The salon itself feels more like a retreat: great music, clean environment, and eco-​friendly. It’s a real treat whenever it’s time for a cut!
I usually go every couple of months for color and a cut, therefore I can give honest advice which is not to bother with any other salon in Manhattan!
OVERALL: reasonably priced, beautiful color, hot cuts, and wonderful people in an eco-​friendly atmosphere. You can’t ask for more than that.

Lovely atmosphere. I was a walk in. They were a bit understaffed because of the holidays. But Luis apologized for the wait and offered a free deep conditioning while I waited for him to finish with his current client.
All of the products were complimentary to each other in scent.
I told him I wanted a trim and to have my hair reshaped. I told him I wanted more texture and layers and if anything, I would NOT like an A-​line. He listened and I got exactly what I wanted.
He gave me an excellent soft and feminine haircut.
On top of an excellent haircut, patience extended, the service was outstanding. Luis was friendly. I enjoyed the conversation I had with him.
My cut cost me $ 65.

This place is ridiculous.
I just got my hair colored here and feel as if I have been cheated and ripped off.
Here’s why:
1) The price that was quoted to me over the phone was 65. I left paying 95.
2) I specifically had made an apptmt for 3:00 with LUIS and showed up on the dot.
Guess what happens? This lady with bright orange hair prances up to me and announces that she will «consult» with me. When I tell her that the person I’m getting my hair done with is Luis, she says that Luis is busy and over booked. She tells me to not worry — Luis will mix the color and she will just do the application. I reluctantly agree. She proceeds to mix the color herself. I am already severely annoyed by this point. I ask her what just happened –I tell her that I saw her mix the color with my own eyes. I should have just gotten up and left at that point.
Luis finally comes around and tries to get out of blow drying my hair. I tell him that’s ridiculous. He acts as if he is doing me a huge favor by blow drying my hair — the entire time he is anxiously looking over at his regulars.
If the actual blow out and color came out fine, I wouldn’t have minded. However, instead of the natural looking, clean black I requested, my hair is a Halloween-​ish Cruella de ville-​like color.
The grand finale is when they decide that the price for the color is not 65, but 95. Are you effing kidding me? I barely have any hair. The point though, is that that was not the price quoted to me over the phone.
I’d advise anyone reading this to NOT go here.
Oh, and the place also smells like a geriatric ward.

Swing is the best salon that I have found in years. I am always extremely satisfied with my cut and my last hair cut and style is one of the favorite ways I’ve worn my hair in years.
The staff is extremely friendly, the place is clean and inviting and I love the music they play.