01Founder · Creative Director · Master Colorist
Alfredo Contrera
The artist behind the name.
Alfredo Contrera is the founder, creative director and master colorist of Alfredo James Hair Design, a luxury hair salon in San Antonio, Texas, with locations in Stone Oak and Alamo Heights. He is known for personalized balayage and the AJ Method.
02A distinct point of view
A signature,
not a formula.
For more than 15 years, Alfredo Contrera has refined the balance between technical precision and instinct. His work is polished without looking overworked, and luxurious without losing the person beneath it.
Every color he creates begins with the same discipline: understand the guest, respect the hair, and design a result that looks inevitable.
- 15+
- Years behind the chair
- 4
- Cities that shaped his eye
- 2
- Salons. One exacting standard
03The path to San Antonio
Four cities.
One point of view.
Before founding Alfredo James Hair Design, Alfredo developed his perspective in salons across three very different American cities.
- I
Palm Beach
Where polish became the baseline.
- II
Denver
Where the eye sharpened.
- III
Seattle
Where the craft deepened.
- IV
San Antonio
Where the vision took a name.
04The Alfredo James philosophy
The work should be noticed. The technique should disappear.
05The AJ Method
Beyond technique.
A standard.
The AJ Method is Alfredo Contrera’s proprietary approach to personalized balayage. Rather than repeating a placement pattern, it is built around the individual — considered in full before the first section is painted.
Today it forms the creative language of Alfredo James Hair Design, giving the salon’s artists a disciplined framework while leaving room for artistry. The objective is never simply lighter hair. It is balance, longevity, and color that belongs to the guest wearing it.
-
i.
Hair history
Past color, condition and texture inform what the hair can beautifully hold.
-
ii.
Features & movement
Face shape, skin and the hair’s natural fall guide where light should live.
-
iii.
Placement & tone
Every section and shade is chosen for this guest — never copied from the last.
-
iv.
Longevity
Color is designed for how it will grow, soften and evolve between visits.
Personalized in conception. Precise in execution. Effortless in the final impression.
06The artist at work
Beauty, with
an identity.
Alfredo’s work is never designed to announce the technique. It is designed to reveal the person — through color, movement, proportion, and a finish that feels both elevated and entirely natural.
Recognizable not because it is repeated.
Recognizable because it is considered.
07The house he is building
One name.
A larger vision.
Alfredo James was created to become more than a collection of beautiful salons. It is the foundation of a modern luxury hair house — defined by exact standards, a recognizable visual language, serious education, and an experience that feels personal at every scale.
Every guest experience, every artist developed, and every location opened is part of that architecture. Alfredo’s name is on the door because his point of view is in the details.
Today · Stone Oak & Alamo Heights This is only the beginning.
08Access to Alfredo
A private point
of entry.
Alfredo’s appointment book is intentionally limited and centered on established guests. He does not offer general online booking.
Prospective new guests may call either salon to request a consultation. Our concierge team will learn about your hair, your goals, and the level of work involved before guiding the next step.
Stone Oak
19178 Blanco Rd, Suite 104San Antonio, Texas 78258 Call (210) 201-3188
Alamo Heights
5800 Broadway, Suite 202San Antonio, Texas 78209 Call (210) 201-3177
Consultation requests are reviewed individually and do not guarantee appointment availability.
09The essential details
About
Alfredo.
Who is Alfredo Contrera?
Alfredo Contrera is the founder, creative director and master colorist of Alfredo James Hair Design in San Antonio, Texas. His career spans more than 15 years and salons in Palm Beach, Denver, Seattle and San Antonio.
Is Alfredo Contrera accepting new clients?
Alfredo's appointment book is intentionally limited and centered on established guests, and he does not offer general online booking. Prospective new guests may call the Stone Oak or Alamo Heights salon to request a consultation.
How do I book a consultation with Alfredo Contrera?
Call Alfredo James Hair Design in Stone Oak at (210) 201-3188 or in Alamo Heights at (210) 201-3177. The concierge team will learn about your hair, your goals and the level of work involved before guiding the next step. Requests are reviewed individually and do not guarantee availability.
What is Alfredo Contrera known for?
Alfredo is known for personalized balayage, dimensional hair color, precision hair design and the AJ Method, his proprietary approach to balayage.
What is the AJ Method?
The AJ Method is Alfredo Contrera's proprietary approach to personalized balayage. Instead of a repeated placement pattern, it considers the guest's hair history, facial features, natural movement, placement, tone and long-term maintenance to create an individual color plan.
Where does Alfredo Contrera work?
Alfredo works by limited appointment at both Alfredo James Hair Design locations in San Antonio, Texas: Stone Oak at 19178 Blanco Rd, Suite 104, and Alamo Heights at 5800 Broadway, Suite 202.