Adrian Elwell

Adrian’s approach to hair

Two handmade phogograpic prints from 2004, below.

Based in San Francisco’s Union Square, hairstylist and colorist Adrian Elwell brings over two decades of precision and artistry to the chair, supported by seven Vidal Sassoon diplomas in cutting and color techniques, a benchmark of rigorous, technical hair education. Adrian specializes in gray coverage, corrective and creative color placement, and multi‑tonal, natural‑looking highlights, with a focus on results that feel polished, natural, and wearable.

Before returning to hairdressing in 2001, Adrian earned a B.S. degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and spent seven years working in health settings during the AIDS crisis, helping people navigate life‑and‑death treatment decisions in a rapidly changing medical landscape. That experience shaped his respect for clear information, evolving research, and evidence‑based guidance—values that now inform how he evaluates products, technologies, and techniques in the salon.

In the years bridging health work and hair, Adrian also developed a visual arts practice, creating photographs using the gum bichromate process, a nineteenth‑century technique that layers watercolor pigments onto fine art paper. Though he is no longer active in Open Studios, the patience, layering, and attention to subtle detail in that process still inform his eye for shape, color, and texture in hair.

Today, as the founder and owner of Ae Salon, Adrian blends technical discipline, thoughtful listening, and an evidence‑driven approach to care. His goal is simple: to help each client make informed choices and leave with hair that feels like an honest reflection of who they are.

Adrian’s mobile number is available in the footer of every page for direct contact (text preferred).