Queen of Swords 2

Elma created Queen of Swords in 2017 and still owns and runs it while working as a stylist. The Bushwick studio is a short walk from the Jefferson St L train station, and the larger Ridgewood studio is reachable from the M train at Fresh Pond Road. The Ridgewood location serves the Ridgewood and Glendale communities on the Brooklyn-Queens border.

Both salons are open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Stylists charge by the hour, and the price list is built around the time each look takes. Gratuity is included in the service price, so clients don't need to tip, and the salon accepts credit cards only.

The salon's specialties are textured haircuts, shags, bobs and modern color. Color services are booked after a consultation, and color and blonding services include a K18 treatment. The stated aim is low-maintenance styles that hold their shape as they grow out. The salon describes its pricing as simple and transparent.

Appointments are booked by time through the online booking system or the Vagaro app. The salon has no phone number, so clients contact their stylist directly or by email. Adjustments to a service can be requested by email within one week at no charge. Clients are asked to arrive with dry hair worn down, without ponytails, buns or clips, and with minimal product. Arriving 10 minutes or more late may mean rescheduling, and 20 minutes or more counts as a no-show.

Values center on precision and excellence, honest communication, empowerment, and creativity with purpose. The aim is low-maintenance styles that hold their shape as they grow out.

The Bushwick studio is cozy, and the Ridgewood studio is larger.