Adrian Elwell

Adrian is the best! That is the one word description of a most talented artist & professional who provides an outstanding experience each time. He takes years off your face, and makes you handsome or beautiful as if you were clay. I have been coming here for 11 years. Haven’t found anyone better!

Adrian is not simply a colorist or stylist, he is a true artist with vision. If you put yourself in Adrian’s capable hands, trust me, you will NOT be disappointed. I first went to Adrian in the hopes he could fix a color disaster. I signed up on his website (super convenient!) for a consultation and as soon as I met Adrian, I knew I had gone to the right place. Adrian was so thorough in explaining how he would fix my color problem (I had wanted a vibrant red, but, unfortunately, my prior colorist had dyed my hair a dull brown that kept getting darker with each visit …). Adrian was also very realistic as to how long the process would take, which I really appreciated. During my first appointment with Adrian, he was immediately able to restore the health of my damaged hair with a number of restorative treatments. My hair has never felt so lush and healthy. In that single visit, he was also able to make significant progress towards coloring my hair the red that I really wanted — bright, glossy and healthy looking, which was more than amazing. After my initial visit with Adrian, I decided right then and there that I would never trust anyone else with my hair care or color. Prior to my second visit with Adrian, I had thought about cutting my long curly locks super short into a «pixie» partly to get rid of the rest of the icky brown color that was still holding on from my prior color disaster and partly because I needed a change. When I mentioned my idea to Adrian, he was all in. But first, being the thoughtful person that he is, he wanted to make completely sure that this is what I wanted. So, he spent about the first 20 minutes of our appointment asking me various questions and also studying my features to make sure that the super short cut I wanted would work for me. The end result: I’ve never been so happy with a haircut in my life nor have I ever gotten so many compliments on anything (haircut or otherwise) before. It seems that everywhere I go, no matter who sees me for the first time since the cut, they completely FLIP OUT at the awesomeness of my hair. Not only that, but, my morning routine has gotten so simple, it’s almost embarrassing. After fighting with long thick curly hair for years, post-​cut, I now literally «comb» my fingers through my hair a few times, put a dab of product in, and voila! I’m ready to go — thank you, Adrian! On a final note, the penthouse that Adrian works out of also is so amazing. The views of the City are incredible; the space is calming and the products Adrian uses smell like citrus, flowers, and spice. After a visit with Adrian, not only will you look and feel incredible, you will feel like you just spent a few hours at the spa. Oh, and as an added bonus, Adrian’s prices are extremely reasonable for what you get. He is also super up-​front about explaining what each treatment, cut, color etc. will cost (the prices are also posted on his website) before he starts, so that there are no surprises. Be kind to yourself and your hair — go see Adrian.

I have lived in NYC, London, Sydney and now SF… and Adrian is THE BEST! I recently moved to SF and was lucky enough to find Adrian. He took so much time with me for my first hair cut… asked a lot of questions… I mean really very much wanted to understand my hair and exactly what my expectations were. I was so impressed with his true interest and patience in learning about me as a client. Then the hair cut! Well that was great! He really understands hair and can give you a cut that is the best for your face. I am now on my second hair cut from Adrian and it just keeps getting better. Adrian is THE BEST!

Adrian is a true artist! He has grea attention to detail, listens really well and does an outstanding color job. Highly highly recommend Adrian!

You NEED Adrian, seriously. He can color your hair funky style and everyone will marvel at how healthy the blue or the ombré or the red looks on you. Or make your hair the same gorgeous shiny dapple of highlights you had in 3^rd grade, and that one will look NATURAL! Seriously, he’s never seen my daughter who is nine, but we have the same shade.:) He’s great at suggesting new shades and looks. He’s real about whether you need just highlights or highlights and color. I beg for the demi-​color for the base because I don’t like the roots and he obliges happily.
His hair cuts are just amazing. I got a sweet bob for several months 2 years ago and people are still talking to me about it. At the same time I tried keriatase treatment and it solved my frizz problem for about 18 months. My blowdrys are amazing and last for several days with a bit of dry shampoo.
The best is Adrian’s personality. You can talk or not. He knows all the latest films. He’s patient and attentive. The shop is LOvELY and elegant without being fussy. You deserve a nice afternoon downtown in a great place with a very skillful and caring hairdresser.

Precision haircuts are exactly what you will get from Adrian. His technique is outstanding. He is reasonably priced and very nice. My first cut (lots of layers) lasted FIVE months and never lost the shape! His shears are so good, not a split end to be found upon my return. I had been paying $ 130 for a haircut that lasted 3 months at a high-​end salon, but no more. Adrian is so talented I am here to stay. In addition, his email communication is gracious and responsive. His online scheduling tool is a dream. You can find him at The Penthouse, 16^th Floor across from Neiman Marcus downtown. Worth the trek and the parking.

Adrian was amazing! I’ve had literally the same hairstyle since forever and never really had the courage to change it. Finally decided to take the leap and let Adrian does his job and IT. IS. AWESOMEEEE!!! I can’t stress enough how much I love my new haircut. Immediately took photo for my parents and family back home (Singapore & Indonesia) to see, and they’re full of praises! Needless to say Adrian will be my goto hairdresser everytime I’m in SF. Not to mention my cousins are DYING with jealousy and can’t wait to actually come here!
Service was GREAT! I sent in a request through Adrian’s website’s contact form at Friday 3am, asking if he’s able to see me on Friday 12pm onwards (I have a party over the weekend). He replied me at 8am with an available timeslot. Omg excellent customer service! He serves tea, paid attention to how I want my hair to be cut. I’ve never had a better hairdressing experience hahaha
And don’t forget the view of Union Square from the Penthouse! Amazing! I spent my day afterwards shopping in Union Sq feeling so so awesome witg my new haircut.
Thank you so so much Adrian! Looking forward to the next appointment! =)

As a performing musician and model whose trademark is her long red hair (I’m a natural brunette), one could say I’m a bit discerning (ok borderline obsessive) when it comes to who colors my tresses. Upon moving to San Francisco, I was nervous about finding someone who could fulfill my needs as a stylist. I found Adrian through fastidious research on Unilocal and decided to give him a try, as his reviews were glowing and felt very honest. As soon as I sat down in his salon chair, Adrian made me feel as if my hair was as important to him as it was to me. He was patient and interested in giving me all the options available along with his professional guidance and made sure I was comfortable and confidant with my choices before proceeding. Getting the right red distributed evenly through long chemically treated hair is tricky and takes intuition and expertise to pull off. Adrian totally delivered. I was so pleased (and relieved) to walk out of his salon with the perfect red for me, shiny, vibrant, and expertly applied with care and attention to detail. Feeling great about your hair isn’t everything, but it does somehow make everything better.

I found Adrian on Unilocal about as I was searching for a stylist who was good with curly hair. I have a long bob, that can be very wavy, curly.
I was not expecting to have so many compliments on what a great cut I have. It works so much better, and I spend less time styling it now that the cut is so much better.
Adrian really takes the time to get to know you, what works for you and specifically what you want. He is very thorough, and thoughtful about his cuts. He also does my color, and I started with him there but then gradually moved over to having him do both. I prefer going to one person for both. It’s very hard to find a stylist who is good at color and cuts, I have only met one in my lifetime and Adrian excels at both.
I’ll stick with Adrian, as I’m really happy with my hair now.

Adrian is, hands down, the best hair stylist I have ever had. Many stylists are talented at cutting hair. Many are creative colourists. Adrian is both, and more.
He has a highly intelligent sense of how to design a haircut to flatter face shape and hair type. He is a genius with short cuts — they always fall perfectly, even when I’m too lazy to blow dry. He somehow makes my baby fine, thin hair look full and bouncy. And he keeps up on the trends, particularly in Europe, keeping his clients in mind when he sees something that might work for them.
Adrian is equally skilled with colour. He introduced me to Elumen which dyes my hair a vibrant copper that magically never fades. His highlighting work is always subtle and sophisticated, giving the hair a shimmery, three dimensional appearance. I constantly receive compliments on my hair colour.
I recently moved overseas and am heartbroken to lose Adrian, though I will certainly be seeing him every time I come home for a visit!

All of these five start reviews are founded; Adrian is a seriously talented stylist.
I found Adrian on Unilocal about three years ago when I was searching for a colorist who uses Schwarzkopf color. After just one appointment I became an Adrian devotee. His color skills are excellent.
Until recently I had been getting my hair cut at a salon closer to home. After having one botched cut at that salon, I asked Adrian to cut my hair. He took the time to really listen to what I wanted in a cut by asking me thoughtful questions. He talked me through the possibilities, and I didn’t feel rushed in the process. It was apparent he cared about delivering the best cut possible, and the result was exactly the haircut I wanted!
Never again will I visit another stylist — Adrian’s my go-​to for color AND now cut.

Having had highlights for almost 20 years, I was in desperate need for a change; a drastic one. English language fails in terms of hair color and shades, and I believe that’s why there is Pinterest.
After going through thousands of pictures for inspiration, I know exactly what i wanted. A white/​platinum blonde with a hint of ash.
Now comes the hard part! Finding the colorist who is talented and courageous enough to take my already damaged hair 4 – 5 shades lighter without frying it AND giving me exactly the tone I want in the first attempt. Sounds like Mission Impossible– Blonde Protocol :)
And here is where Adrian comes. Adrian is a color maestro, a super hero. Just like the rest of the world, I found him through Unilocal reviews, I have exchanged four emails, with countless pictures of what I want and do not want before our consultation appointment. Adrian was patient and responded to every email.
Adrian is a perfectionist and understands what the client wants precisely; When he met me, he explained «It might take more than one go to get the yellow dye out,». «It might take more than one day,» Sure enough our first appointment took close to 4 hours. Starting from a process to strip the yellow out of my hair to a Vitamin C rinse to neutralize the bleach, followed by a toner.
End result: FABULOUS hair color; first attempt
Since then I have booked appointments with 4 to 5 week intervals for touch ups and re-​toning. Every time, I had a great experience with Adrian. He never rushes and he explains every step of the process so you know what to expect.
I am now a loyal client of Adrian and recommend him highly.

Adrian is my hair doctor, and I’m not talking about a doctor who keeps you waiting for an hour and then gives you a rushed 15 minutes. I remember the first time I went to see him a year ago when he spent a good 20 – 30 minutes talking to me and trying to match my hair color perfectly (blonde hair dyed red). Long story short, I’ve been coming back ever since and I never feel rushed through like I’m on a hair care assembly line.
When I first started going to see him and said I liked my hair styled in loose curls he was honest that he didn’t do a lot of curls for clients but he would be happy to. To be clear, I think his clients just don’t usually request that sort of thing, so it wasn’t due to lack of skill, just lack of use. Since then he has really done his research about curling and they keep coming out better and better.
Adrian primarily uses the Davines hair care line, although he also uses some René Furterer products as well. He DEFINITELY does his research on the products in his own spare time and can name off the benefits and drawbacks of each product to get the right one in your hands and on your hair. He has even followed up with me via email to see if I’m liking the product, and if I don’t he works to make a better recommendation for me.
To put a cherry on top, Adrian has never kept me waiting for more than 15 minutes, and always texts me if he is running a little late. I love this open communication and really appreciate that he works hard to be on time. I know another client is appreciating his dedication to them so I just can’t fault him for being a few minutes late.
In short, Adrian is awesome and I will follow him anywhere!

Adrian is a fantastic colorist, and I can’t believe I haven’t written him a review already — I’ve been going to him for probably two years now, and it’s been perfect every time.
A very long time ago I’d found myself in an a pretty untenable situation; I had a colorist whose work I loved… and she was in New York at Sally Hershberger. I’d tried three salons in SF with a different disaster each time, and I found myself actually booking flights to New York to get my hair touched up.
It turns out that the reason my red dye was coming out so wrong in SF is that I was hooked on a particular shade, and the brand (Schwarzkopf) was a bit more exclusive, and hard to find in San Francisco.
I went looking for Schwarzkopf, and found Adrian, and have been going to him ever since. He’s an expert who gets great results (the perfect red, every time) and he’s a kind, genuine and altogether lovely human being to chat with each visit. He’s gone above and beyond for me on a couple of occasions to do a last minute appointment or extra service and I am so grateful.
He’s very technical — he can tell you how this color or that will combine, and the reasons why, and beyond the technicalities of hair dye, he’s also one of the most tech-​savvy stylists I’ve ever met. He’s set up his website to have online appointment booking, which is an absolute godsend — it’s so nice to remember at 9pm that you need to make a hair appointment, and two minutes later have it confirmed and entered in your calendar. Highly recommended.

Hairdressers are like good friends. You choose them carefully because they can make or break you and with a good cut or color. Every woman knows the confidence a good stye can give and the agony that can be suffered with a bad one. Years ago my sister lost most of hair due to pneumonia and when her once straight hair grew back it grew back with a curl. To some this would have been a dream come true, but not to my sister who lost most of her self confidence. Years later she began to investigate the famed Brazilian Blowouts that celebrities were having. If you suffer from hair with frizz or a wave that requires constant hair straightening it probably won’t have escaped your notice that most of the big Hollywood stars are having this straightening treatment. However what you might not be aware of is the dangerous chemicals that are released during the drying process and not all salons are being honest about the risks associated with the process. The healthier option is known as Keratin Complex. However no one in our family had heard about, until my mother was having her hair colored with Adrian.
Adrian is someone you can trust absolutely with the safety of your hair, scalp and health. We found him through a search for a colorist for my mother (please see previous review) and while in the salon she started to discuss my sister’s desire for straight hair and the Brazilian Blowout. Adrian was incredibly well informed of the dangers of this technique and educated her on the risks associated as well as the alternative, the Keratin Complex treatment. For those of you who aren’t aware of the risks of formaldehyde here are the key points as listed by the National Cancer Institute.
The procedure itself was free of hassle and the time spent waiting for the lotion to work it’s magic flew past due to the variety of reading material and a glass of wonderfully chilled wine. When he flat ironed it I immediately began to see the difference as my hair was dead straight and incredibly shiny. I wanted to tell others about Adrian as I was so impressed by the service he provided and his manner as a stylist. I would not hesitate to recommend Adrian to anyone for their hair needs. He really is exceptional and in a city full of hairdressers someone you can trust with all your hair needs.

Adrian is the man. Great cut, great convo and great sense as to what my cut should be… I have two cowlicks. You also get a deal if you pay cash…

I am new to the city and desperately needed a cut & colour, and turned to Unilocal for assistance. after reading reviews i picked Adrian.
Adrian was flexible with scheduling and friendly when i met him. His opinions of my hair and what was needed were spot on (if not received reluctantly at first, but i am like most girls!)
i got a cut and highlights, and i love it!
Adrian was a bold stylist and not only gave me a cut/​colour i like, he made my hairstyle better — fixing some issues from previous stylists.

Adrian did a great job! Highly recommend him for his alacrity, efficiency and excellent styling sense. Thanks, Adrian! You’re a gem!

OK. Adrian did the non-​toxic, non-​formaldahide (sp?) smoothing treatment on my hair last week (California Smooth). My hair has been amazing ever since. Even yesterday, when it rained ALL DAY, which, normally, would have been a recipe for Major FRIZZ alert. Instead, my hair looked fantastic. On top of being frizz-​free, my hair dries in HALF the time. Oh, did I mention it is NON-​toxic too! Seriously. Oh yea, my husband said he loves my hair. Bonus.

I was in between hair stylists, looking for someone who was a fit for me, someone I trusted to become «my» hair stylist. I went on Adrian’s website I saw that his approach would fit my lifestyle & had the hair philosophy I was looking for.
He does amazing cuts that really are wash & wear but look just as good if you use a hair dryer & some product. For the first color session he asked questions, had examples, & really listened to me. He gave me exactly what I wanted. And the color really lasted! Now I just sit in his chair while he makes suggestions & let him do his thing. He gets my hair, he gets my lifestyle & has delivered great cuts & color every time.
The salon he works in is very convenient to downtown, bright, & funky in that good San Francisco way. The receptionist is extremely nice & helpful. Adrian also has an on-​line system that makes is really easy to book appointments but he will take your calls as well. His website is also a wealth of information that really helps give you the information you need to make informed decisions about your hair.
I can’t recommend him enough.