ULTA Salon & Cosmetics

STORE-3.5 STARS I have been to this location both for the salon and to purchase cosmetics. When I first moved here last year, they were always out of my mascara. When I tried to call to check if it was in stock before making the trip, my phone calls most often went unanswered. As of late, they’ve had my makeup in stock most times that I’ve gone in. The customer service is hit or miss with overly friendly staff sometimes and others icy cold.
SALON– 2 STARS I recently got my hair cut at the salon. I had received a new customer promo postcard in the mail, and when I scheduled my appointment over the phone, I told the person about it. She told me that they didn’t have a promo like that currently and was almost argumentative about it. I brought the postcard with me, and they did honor it, but the woman’s behavior on the phone was forceful and unprofessional. I can’t remember the name of the stylist who cut my hair, but at first she was friendly and talkative but then got quiet and almost seemed upset. Another person stopped by the salon in the middle of my cut, and she went to go talk to her. As she was finishing up, I asked if she could blow dry my hair straight, and she told me that she had just told the other person she could be with them in fifteen minutes. That other person was a walk-​in, and I had made an appointment and was in the middle of my service. Although she did blow dry my hair, I felt uncomfortable and like I was being a bother. My cut was decent, and the price was very affordable. I just wish there would have been more professional and better service.

I’ve been getting facial treatments with Michelle for about three months now and she has worked wonders on my skin. She is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and always willing to answer my skin and beauty questions. She even sent me a hand-​written letter in the mail after my first service. Now that is what I call customer service!

They cancelled my hair appointment with only 20 minutes’ notice, and couldn’t reschedule for that day or the next day. The earliest they could see me was in «about a week.» Uh, the correct way to handle that would have been to call and ask if I was ok with another stylist (at the original stylists’ rate)…something that wasn’t offered. I’ll be taking my business somewhere else!

Went there last week on a whim to get a quick cut. Heather was able to take me on the fly and did a FANTASTIC job reshaping and understanding what I wanted! Came back today to have color updated and glazing, SHE IS FABULOUS! I’ve lived here 3 years and had not found anyone with an eye for color and cuts like my lifetime hairdresser in NC. Highly recommend as the price is more than reasonable and she’s super talented and patient beyond words! I’m not an «easy» customer as I’ve had a lot of bad experiences so I’m sold! Cannot say enough good things!!! Thank you!!!

Great service and products. The women that work here know their stuff and are really helpful assisting you.

Awful experience getting a gel «manicure» done recently. They were the same price as most places will give a manicure, but all they do is give a polish. The girl wasn’t careful and painted way outside the lines of my nails which would be okay with regular polish but with gel just means it doesn’t stick down. It started peeling off after one day and a week later looks so bad I have to get them redone. I filled out the survey on my receipt but they didn’t respond at all to my complaints. Do not waste your money!

12 customers in line. 5 registers. 1 open. Slow as molasses. Used redline scan on all objects while waiting, could have ordered all of it for 23% less from Amazon with no shipping and had it in two days. If they want to complete, they need to work on customer service.

I had an appointment in the salon with Rachael for a haircut and style. She was absolutely wonderful! I told her what I wanted, and we discussed how to make my new look work for me. She even gave me styling tips since I was changing up my look. She asked me before using styling products, which I really appreciated, and not everyone would do. I told her which products I use at home, and she gave me tips on how to use them with my new style. She also gave me some samples of products to try at home, which I LOVE. It gives me the opportunity to try things out before committing to purchase. In addition to being a fantastic and knowledgable stylist, she was extremely sweet. She complimented me on everything from my hair color and texture to the sweater I was wearing. We chatted the whole time she worked, so there was no awkward moments, and she made it a point to ask about me and my life, so the conversation felt natural. It was like talking to an old friend.
I will definitely be back to this Ulta salon, and I will make sure my appointment is with Rachael. It was a great experience, and I will be recommending her to my friends!

I went to Ulta to get a haircut. First of all, I tend to decide to get a haircut spur of the moment and need to get it done before I changed my mind. I called every salon in town and they all were booked, but Ulta got me right in. That was great.
Second, I was scheduled with Amy. Now, call me crazy, but that hour where you’re sitting with a complete stranger can sometimes be awkward. Not with Amy. She is a great conversationalist, and the experience of having my hair cut was way better than any other experience I’ve had. Amy was like an instant friend.
Third, Amy looked at the photos I showed her of what I wanted, then described exactly what she was going to do and why she was going to do it. I have a TON of hair, and she didn’t take any shortcuts. The haircut turned out fabulous and when I tried to style it myself, it looked just as good.
I can’t rate the other hair stylists, but Amy is a gem!

I am leaving this rating in regards to the gel nails. Unfortunately, I had my nails done and had the gel come off the next day. I went back the following day and the ladies were helpful and were willing to fix them on the spot without additional cost. However, more gel came off the day after!
This was my first experience with OPI gel, so maybe it’s common for the paint to come off so fast. I wish my eperience was better because everyone in the salon is so friendly and helpful.

I get my hair cut by Alma and she does a fantastic job. Every time. The girls that work at Ulta that I see on a regular basis treat me fantastic and are quick to say hi and be polite. My ONLY complaint about Ulta is my experience with some of the new girls there. They are dismissive and sometimes unhelpful. I have a friend who went in to get some new face wash, and when consulting an employee for help, was completely disregarded and told. «I can’t help you because I’m busy and don’t care about skin products.» Overall my experience at Ulta has always been fantastic, and I’m sure I will go back again and again.

This is regarding their customer service … or lack thereof. I was in there a week ago and spent over $ 100 on stuff (curling iron, bare minerals, body wash, OPI nail polish and a Stila eyeshadow). The next monday while I was applying the shadow I dropped it and it shattered on the floor. I was sad and posted a sad little picture on my facebook news feed.
A very generous friend saw how much this bummed me out and as a surprise went to Ulta and attempted to replace it. He wasn’t 100% sure which one I had purchased and with the help of the salesgirl, he bought a 3-​pack shadow and not the individual shadow trio I had originally purchased. I didn’t want to tell him it wasn’t the same but no biggie, I’ll exchange it at Ulta where he got it. Ha! Not so fast.
I went into Ulta and explained my story and the girl behind the counter said, «oh yes I remember him — I sold him the new one» I explained to her that it was the wrong one and that the colors he got me were not right for my skin type. She got the manager to do the exchange and it turns out THEY DO NOT ACCEPT EXCHANGES w/​o A RECEIPT!!! What?! I just want to trade and pay the difference in price — they would actually make money on this deal. Nope. She told me it’s because their registers are too old to process this transaction (um, do it by hand?!)
She pointed me to their «return» policy which says nothing about exchanges and when I ask, «So you are willing to lose me as a customer and not make a sale here?» she said YES!
Wow.
My advice — don’t stray from Sephora!
*******UPDATE*********
Called Ulta customer service who was shocked at my experience, called the store immediately and had be go back and complete the exchange. The girl wipped out a little laminated sprial notebook on how to do these kinds of exchanges, I paid them the $ 6 difference in price and it was done in 3 mins. I asked her if this could have just been done in the first place and she said humbly… Yes. wtf.
Ulta called me back and offered me a $ 20 gift certificate to not leave them.