Before & After: The Salon at Ulta Beauty Review
This is a sponsored post in partnership with Ulta Beauty and Her Campus Media. All words and opinions are my own.
If you’re a longtime reader, you probably know that I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. I love the thickness and texture for when it comes time to style it— my favorites being big, bouncy curls or voluminous and straight. But I’ve never really been comfortable with my natural texture.
My hair has actually changed a lot over the years. It’s gone from completely straight as a kid, to frizzy curls, to loose waves. The past few times I’ve been to the salon, I’ve just told them to give me layers and walked out without really giving much thought to what will give my natural texture the potential to shine. That was my goal stepping into The Salon at Ulta Beauty.
It can be easy to forget the there is a full service salon at your local Ulta Beauty— it’s usually tucked away into the corner, but has so much to offer! You can indulge in hair, skin and brow services, making the store the best retailer for exploring everything beauty in one place. It’s been years since I’ve had a go-to hairstylist that I love and trust… so if I found one at the store I frequent most, that’d be a major win. I had gotten a simple blowout at The Salon at Ulta Beauty before in Los Angeles, but was ready to find my hairstylist soulmate at my local store.
Here’s where I was before my appointment: I hadn’t had a cut since November, and was happy with my length, but my hair just looked like a mess when left natural. I knew it was healthy to give my hair a break from heat styling, but I just didn’t feel confident leaving it alone. When I met with my hairstylist, Morgan, I told her I was trying to keep my hair long but needed a cut that would cater to my natural waves. At this point, other hairstylists I had gone to in the past would just suggest long layers as always. But Morgan took a moment to really go through my hair and assess the situation.
First of all, she noticed a lot of unevenness in my existing layers due to breakage. This was contributing to the messy and frizzy look. My ends were also thinning out and breaking, which you can see at the bottom of the before photo— the last inch is much more sparse than the rest of my hair. So, our plan of action was to cut about an inch off the ends just to get the damage, and then Morgan would create layers to match the lengths of the breakage to even out the style and make everything look like it was on purpose. We were going for a piecey and wavy vibe that looked intentional.
Morgan also suggested a PH Bonding treatment to help revive my hair back to health. It was just an extra step while getting my hair washed, where we let it sink in for about 10 minutes. After that, she worked away at my cut. Since I was going out that night, I asked her to style it straight. She used a straightening tool called the Steam Infusion and my hair was super straight and oh-so-touchable. It literally felt like a new head of hair, and the feeling lasted through second day hair. But, I was really excited to see how my hair would act after my first wash and air-dry.
Well, I was not disappointed. As you can see in the photo, my waves look intentional and not like a case of bed-head. In fact, my whole mane looks more full now that the breakage has been cut off and layers are evened out. I feel like I actually have shape to my hair instead of just limp frizz. And this is completely air-dried! I did run a bit of the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie through it and gave it a little scrunch, but other than that it is all me, baby!
Overall, I’m now a loyal client of The Salon at Ulta Beauty. It was way more than just the haircut I’m used to— it was working with a stylist to really customize a look that’s right for my hair. That’s invaluable, making my routine so much easier, since I’m not fighting against my hair. I now have so much more confidence to #gonatural.
If you’ve been looking for a new regular salon, do me a favor and check out your local Ulta Beauty. You just might thank me, and find your new soulmate stylist.
Have you ever visited The Salon at Ulta Beauty?
Im getting color done there tomorrow because my stylist has cancelled on me LAST minute 3 times and I’m a platinum blonde so my roots cant take 13 weeks of growth. never used them before but I am praying this works out.
Good luck!
Are there any good stylist at ULTA in Burlington NC????
I just got my hair cut I wanted something I can get out of the pool and shake and something I can straighten if I want to. I got the WORST cut so bad my middle school students were laughing. I look like Gilda Radner Rosanadana, I have half an fro , one of my students asked “ Who did this to you” I have the worst bob in history, the cut was really quick, I have thick wavy hair. I gave the hair dresser two pictures for an idea of what I wanted. It took me an hour 60 minutes to feel okay to walk out the door. My hair is thick it needed to be tapered I asked “did you taper it? She said yea and handed me a mirror. My sister said I was lucky she didn’t taper it so I can grow my hair out to fix it. I paid $80 so I guess I got what I paid for … the hair dresser was recommended I am so upset that my friend that recommended her can’t apologize enough
This happened at the new Ulta in Surprise Az by 303
My students are even making fun of this disaster
Don’t listen to Miranda
That sucks that the stylist wasn’t listening to you! I’ve only had good luck with 2 different Ulta stylists but my favorite unfortunately moved, so I’ve changed salons.
I went to Ulta Beauty for a keritan Complex smoothing treatment. The lady was a “stylist” level hairdresser. Honestly, I could have saved my $202 on the hair service and, however much I spent on the products. My curl wasn’t reduced much, my hair isn’t really soft and I still have frizz! Pretty upset that I exposed myself to “Formaldehyde chemical” for a really low result hair treatment!!! The Brazilian Blowout gave me lovely results. Curl was reduced ,I didn’t have any frizz and my hair was soft. I am not going to book any more smoothing hair treatments or relaxers. Forget it!
Yeah, I’ve done chemical straightening/smoothing treatments (not at Ulta) and my hair doesn’t take to them at all. Really just depends on your hair type as far as what works with it or not. I don’t think that’s the stylist’s fault.
Absolutely stunning! Natural, beautiful and simple look!
You have really beautiful hair. Thanks for such a brief article. I’ll try it soon.
Hope you have a good experience! Since writing this, I’ve had my hair done a handful of times at The Salon and it’s always turned out great!
I’ve never been to the Ulta salon. I’m super picky with my hair since I’ve gotten some bad cuts and dyes in the past, but your results look awesome! Your hair is gorgeous!
I was super happy with how it turned out, and my stylist was talking about how much ongoing education they get to take while employed, which thrilled me!
I would really like to try these services at Ulta, I really need a haircut and some advice on my aging hair.
Your hair is so pretty! I wish mine would do that!
What a great makeover <3 You look beautiful .<
Your hair looks fabulous! I went to Ulta Salon once and loved it! I will be so glad when we have one a little closer to home!
It does look really nice! Also might I mention I love your shirt!
Your hair does look more lively in the after pic. I’ve envied your luscious hair!
I’ve never tried the Ultra salon but have heard great things. Your hair looks fabulous!
I have never tried any of their salon services. Is this at the WEHO location next to Target?
No, I live in Las Vegas 🙂
My last haircut (five years ago!) was at The Salon at Ulta. I loved it! Your style looks gorgeous.
Girrrrl you’re overdue for one!!!
I had a color treatment done at Ulta once. It was super nice! And convenient! 🙂
I have gone to Ulta twice for cuts. First time was amazing but then the stylist left. Second time was awful. Too scarred to go back
I don’t have Ulta near me. I know there’s one opening in few months (first in Hawaii), I would be interested to try their salon services.
Your hair looks great! I haven’t used the salon at my Ulta primarily because I’m a Vidal Sassoon loyalist for decades. But it looks like a good place.
Your hair is so gorgeous!
I never tried their salon services, but now I want to try!
You were lucky to get such a dedicated stylist there. I find getting rid of that bottom inch usually makes a difference for my hair too. But I sure don’t have your gorgeous head of hair.
It looks so good – I love your natural waves!
I’ve never tried the Ulta salon, but this would be a great “me” activity. We have similar hair…natural waves and I’m getting to the frizzy point.