Alright, I'm not usually one to post reviews unless they're positive. However, this is the exception; genuinely such a poor experience that I have spent several days crying about it.
Photos (may be out of order because Yelp won't let me pick the order lol): first is what I came in with, second is what I asked for, third and fourth are mid-process, fifth and sixth are the result of what my hair looked like, and seventh is only one of the literal burns on my face and ears, eighth is the fixed hair.
I went into the salon on Sunday, May 4th to have my blonde redone. It had been several months (3+) since my hair had been done, but it has only been worked on professionally, so no box dye or at-home bleaching. My hair was in very good condition health wise when I came in. My stylist was nice, and said she would be able to do what I wanted. I have had my hair bleached for over a decade, so I am very familiar with the process and what is "doable" in one session. The photo I brought was absolutely achievable from where I started.
It is worth mentioning that she asked for advice and help throughout the whole process of doing my hair; to have so many stylists consult and still have things end up this way is honestly shocking.
I started to worry when she first brought me to the bowl. The top of my hair was orange, the roots were level 10 white, and there was a thick band of dark hair around my hairline that had been entirely missed. I asked to have it redone so at least the dark hair was addressed. We ended up reprocessing my whole head, which was not necessary; the brassy areas and missed hair just needed to be reworked.
I arrived at 1:15 and left just before 6:00 PM. I left the salon with semi-wet, flat, uneven, brassy, yellow hair. Was it the worst bleach job in the world? No. But did it look finished, professionally done, or like what I asked for? Also no. My best friend put it best when she said "it's giving 'I did this in my bathroom in high school' vibes."
At the time that I left the salon, I didn't bother discussing the issue with my stylist. I was exhausted and not confident in their ability to fix my hair.
I called the next day and spoke to the manager, letting them know that I was fine with paying for the cut and deep conditioner but I did not feel like the "blonding" service I received was something worth paying over $120 for. I was told I would have to speak to the salon manager when she arrived at 12:30 PM. I let the manager know that I was having to go somewhere else at 12:00 PM on Monday to have it fixed, and asked if that would be a problem; I was told that it would not be a problem and to go ahead.
When the salon manager called, I was informed that, surprise surprise, getting it fixed elsewhere was a problem. Directly contradictory to what I was already told. They apparently needed me to have photos of the hair taken in-store to be able to give me a refund. I was already halfway through getting this mess repaired at another salon. The salon manager said she would check their cameras and talk to other managers/corporate.
I received a call back several hours later informing me that because they couldn't take pictures of my hair in the salon, I would not receive a refund. However in the same call the manager said she clearly saw the whole process on the store cameras; what I came in with, everything that happened at the bowl, and the color I left with.
Regardless, I wasn't going to argue or make a fuss. I just wouldn't go back. Then I noticed the burns.
I have bleach burns all over the sides of my face, and ears. My skin feels rough and dry only in the areas where the stylist let my hair sit on my face and ears with the bleach on it. Photos show that I did NOT have marks when I showed up. In 10+ being bleached, I have NEVER been burned like this. I felt so sad seeing my skin so raw and red.
So yeah. I would absolutely caution any blondes away from the Ulta Salon. I left with yellow hair and burns. On the plus side in the last photo you can see the beautiful hair the stylist who fixed this was able to do for me (: The lighting isn't perfect but the difference is apparent. read more