Swing

Laurel does amazing work. She knows what she’s doing and she’s consistent every time. She really takes her time to make sure my haircut is perfect and I’m always impressed.

Laurel was great to work with! This was my first time going to Swing and I came in looking for a more stylish cut for a job interview the next day; she worked wonders! She understands what’s cute and modern and gave me a polished and easy-​to-​maintain style as well as great color consultation for some problem areas from a previous coloring (not at this salon). I would definitely recommend her services to anyone looking for a new stylist in the area.

Laurel gave me the best haircut I’ve ever gotten and was a delight to work with– she is a true artist! Thank you Laurel and thank you Swing!

Laurel is fantastic! She transformed my boring triangle hair into something with actual style and movement. She’s the first stylist in years who has understood what I wanted and executed it flawlessly. Definitely going back to see Laurel soon!

Donna is the best! Great hairstylist, great colorist, great conversationist… Always fun to go get my haircut here.

Donna is awesome! I love my hair, which almost never happens the day of the cut. We had a great conversation, too. Highly recommended!
The skinny — Donna knows her stuff. I have curly hair, am growing out a pixie, and I color it hot pink. She knew how to deal with all of it, and I’m definitely going to talk to her when it’s time to do the color again.

I have been cutting my own hair in a buzz cut for years because I believed nothing could be done with it. After giving Donna a chance to work her magic over a couple of months, I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on how great my hair looks, and I certainly agree. She’s friendly, enthusiastic, deliberate and professional. I really can’t imagine getting my hair cut anywhere else.

Eric is fantastic. He’s super friendly, and I always leave looking great. The price is right, and it tends to be easy to schedule. And there’s a bike rack, and good coffee next door. I couldn’t ask for more.

Lacey Card is the ‘girl’ to go to! After searching the city high and low for an advanced colorist that would not damage my long colored blonde hair for 2 years I finally found a home! She not only does amazing color (and mine is difficult with 3 shades of blonde/​brown), but her hair cuts are better than any I have had before and her prices are the best in town for the quality and time spent!

Best haircut and best color, I’ve ever had. I didn’t really know how I wanted my hair cut, I just knew what I didn’t want. Laurel helped me figure it out, and she spent extra time making sure it was perfect. I love it. Then I wanted to get my hair a little lighter (I have dark brown hair) and she knew just what to do. It’s not too brassy or red looking but natural. If you need a little help with a new style or a little update, I’d suggest going with Laurel.

So this review is really about Laurel. I’ve only visited Swing once, but I followed her there from her last salon. I was impulsive recently and let someone else cut my hair (very thick, long, with a grey streak at the top of my head). I don’t like much in the way of thinning, layering, or chopping. I like and look best in very classic cuts. While my hair has plenty of body, it doesn’t style easily, and I refuse to get a cut that requires me to use product. Ok, so I’m picky. Fine. I should have realized long ago that being impulsive for me was a dumb idea, but I did it. I had a stranger cut my hair when I didn’t have my contacts on and had taken my glasses off. And I forgot to give her my lecture about my likes, etc. So, this other woman (not Laurel) started ripping into my hair. Before I knew it, I looked like David Cassidy. So I called Laurel, left a message over the holidays. She called me back from her vacation and asked lots of questions about what my hair looked like. It was clear she remembered me very well — she remembered where my cowlicks are!!! And she remembered my taste in haircuts. She advised me to wait until she got back from her trip, saying that the couple of weeks would allow the shock to settle down and give her more to work with.
So, several things about Laurel. She takes her time. You will not be rushed. If you are in a rush, be clear ahead of time. She will go over what you want in detail. No hair stylist is a mind reader — you have a picture in your head of what you want, and they can’t see that. Pictures of models are fine, but whose face and hair match those in the picture? Anyway, she asks detailed questions about what you want, how your hair works, and how you like to work with it. And you go from there. In taking her time, she’s sure not to make any drastic moves she can’t undo. She’s fine if you’re honest with her if you don’t like her suggestions — something that can be awkward with some stylists. Add to all that the fact that she is a super sweet, interesting, and genuinely caring person. She also colors and cuts my 22 year old daughter’s hair. Again, she remembered just what she had done to her hair and asked in advance what colors, etc, she should have ready. My daughter, whose tastes and needs are very different from my 49 year old self, walks away just as happy. Cost is perfectly reasonable, and the quality is fantastic, and she even encourages me to call for a free touch up as we attempt to fix my hair. She really is a skilled hair stylist.
Only one negative, and it’s not about Laurel. I would suggest the shop owner put a little more effort into the look of the place — especially housekeeping. Nothing really wrong here and it won’t stop me from returning, but getting your hair cut should be an all around treat, no? Or maybe that’s my age talking.
Yesterday I was David Cassidy, today I look like I belong in the year 2014, and soon enough (as my hair grows out and with Laurel’s help) I will be myself again. Who knew a hair stylist could offer hope!!!

Lacey gives great haircuts. She is creative and takes the right amount of time to make sure it’s perfect. I get tons of compliments on my cuts from Lacey.

Love Donna, and this salon. Unpretentious, easy free street parking, and Donna is amazing. I’ve had color, foils, and haircuts and she’s rock solid. She’s also amazingly down to earth, smart, and fun to talk to. Easy appointment booking on StyleSeat. GO AND SEE HER – you won’t be sorry.

I’ve been going to Lacey Card for a few years now and was so happy to find that she was moving to Swing! It’s right around the corner from my house, and it seems to be a really good fit for her. I have kept generally the same hair cut forever, but Lacey’s coloring techniques have always surpassed anyone I’ve ever gone to. I trusted her with the big step of going bleach blonde after years of dark hues and I couldn’t be happier! She’s incredible and they are so lucky to have her. See you soon Lace!

Laurel does such a wonderful job with my hair that I won’t see anyone else! I don’t really like anything over the top, just a good haircut that grows out really well, even weeks to months after the cut. She is the best at knowing how to make my haircut last.
Plus she makes the whole experience so much fun with her big personality. She has some funny perspectives on any subject and I always leave in a good mood.
I recommend laurel to everyone who wants a stylish cut for day to day life. She’s the best!

I am very sorry to say that this is the worst haircut I have had in my life. I have thick hair. It’s very wavy. It can be hard to find a great stylist, but I have had better cuts from students and people who quit cutting a decade before they touched my hair. Or at least, more fixable cuts.
It will take a year, a full 12 months, for my hair to recover. I have since had my hair cut elsewhere in attempt to repair the horrible cut I had at Swing. It still is not where I was when I went to Swing.
I was excited because Swing was so close to my apartment. It had good reviews. It was easy to schedule online. I told the stylist what I wanted, that I liked my cut, but was trying to grow it out. I have difficult, thick, wavy hair that curls up like crazy in humidity, and length makes it easier, but I need it thinned out, but kept long.
It does sometimes take a few tries to find the right stylist, but never in my life of moving very frequently have I run into such a bad cut.
The cut was completely wrong for my hair type, which I explained very clearly and have had plenty of practice describing to new stylist as I have relocated and searched for a new stylist frequently. I explained what I needed, and that I was trying to grow it out, but that I needed undercutting. I ended up with what was essentially a helmet cut. I may as well have walked out with a frizzy mullet cut from the early 90’s. The top layers of my hair were so short all the way around my head, I looked like I had a frizzy bowl on my head. He did not style my hair at all, just messed it up, so it looked like someone had rubbed a balloon atop of my head. But he left the thinnest of layers long enough so I could have been wearing some cartoon version of a helmet. It was not feathered nicely to even it out. I about had a panic attack the second I walked in the door and my hair had a chance to dry, because I was sent away with wet, choppy, helmet hair. I called immediately and my call was not returned until nearly midnight. It was after 11:30pm when I was in bed since I had to get up for work at 6am the next day.
I almost went back as he had offered one free touch up. I did not have enough trust to return. I went to another stylist at another salon nearly 3 months later, time to let it grow out since the only option I had left at the time was a pixie cut, despite the fact that I told him I was trying to grow it out and I could easily put my hair in a pony tail when I went in, and still can barely get my hair into a tiny nub that falls out immediately, despite it being about 5 months later.
Some people have had good luck at Swing. Maybe you will. Personally, I will never go back.

I thought I had written a review about dear Eric at Swing a long time ago, I really did! I love Eric, he’s one of the nicest, most personable guys I’ve ever met. He also happens to be an amazing hairdresser! Ok, my hair doesn’t show it much due to the fact that I wear a hat at work in surgery many hours a week. But he is amazing, he’s intuitive, skilled, kind… I could go on. My husband and son also go to Eric and recommend him to anyone!

I usually only get my hair cut a couple times a year, since it is curly and I’m picky. I decided to try Swing after reading the great reviews and it was a great choice!
Eric was super friendly and easy going and listened to what I wanted and didn’t want with my haircut. I wanted a pretty big change and opted for a short style, which was nerve-​racking with curly hair; I’ve waited for years b/​c I didn’t think it was possible.
Eric did an amazing job with the cut and styling of my hair. It’s been incredibly easy to maintain and super low maintenance, but still looks like I spent time on it! I’ve been getting compliments on it since I left the salon and I have Eric to thank for that!
Also, this was the most affordable cut I’ve had in the city since moving here three years ago. It was all worth it and I will definitely be going back again and again! All around the best salon and haircut experience to date!

I just moved to the Central District and was looking for a salon in the neighborhood, so it was great to find Swing within walking distance. It’s on a mostly residential street with plenty of street parking, if you’re driving.
The online booking is easy to schedule and I got an email reminder the day before my appointment.
The salon is smallish, with three chairs, but has a comfortable and relaxed vibe with cool art to look at and soothing music to listen to while you wait your turn. I wanted to avoid the intimidating hipper-​than-​thou Capitol Hill experience, and Swing was welcoming and low-​key.
Eric consulted with me briefly about my hair and looked at pics of past haircuts I’ve had and liked. He did something I’ve never had a stylist do: dry my hair lightly and scrunch it up to show how the cut would look as a wash-​and-​go. This was really helpful and I wish all stylists would do it! He offers free bang trims between cuts, and said that if I wasn’t happy with the way he did the layering around my face (which was slightly different from my previous cut), I could come back and have it fixed free. But I’ve already gotten so many compliments on my cut today that I don’t think I’ll need to!
A shampoo/​cut/​style was $ 45 for long hair, which seemed reasonable. Eric wasn’t pushy or trying to hawk products, which I appreciated — it’s awkward having to fend off the upselling while your cut is in progress. I think I was the last customer of the night, but I didn’t feel that he was rushing through my cut or trying to hustle me out the door. All around, a solid haircut for a fair price in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. I’ll be back!

I have to admit, I’m very picky and loyal when it comes to hairdressers. Eric is the best I’ve ever had, and a good guy to boot. I have no idea why his prices are so low, but he gives one hell of a haircut, takes direction well, and also does a great job when set free to be creative.
When you’re this good, there are a couple catches, however. You need to book on the website instead of by phone or dropping in. The website looks a bit sketchy but actually operates really well. Second, he’s out of town doing the traveling haircut superstar thing about a week each month — so you need to schedule carefully. As a last-​minute kind of guy, I’ve put off haircuts too long to make sure I see him, and regretted it if I went to anyone else.