Ulta Beauty — Local services in Seattle

For the past two years, I’ve had the absolute honor and privilege of getting my hair done by Gillian H., and I truly don’t think words can capture the artistry and care she brings into every single appointment. Gillian isn’t just a hairdresser—she’s a visionary, a master of her craft, and someone who makes you feel like your most radiant, confident self the moment you step out of her chair…

Every cut, every color, every snip of her magic scissors is done with such intention and precision. What’s most incredible is that my current haircut is modeled after the way Gillian cuts her own hair—she’s so skilled that she not only made it work for me, she made it “mine” in my own way. That’s a rare kind of talent. The fact that she can replicate her own look on a clients hair type and density, and make it feel customized speaks volumes about her expertise and intuition.

I’ve lost count of how many compliments I’ve received on my hair since seeing her—and each one is a reminder of why I’ll continue to recommend her to anyone looking for a stylist who truly gets it. Gillian creates styles that grow out beautifully, feel effortless to maintain, and always make me feel elevated. You can tell she pours her heart into what she does.

But beyond her talent, Gillian is just an incredible human being. From the moment I sit in her chair, it feels like catching up with an old friend or even a therapist—she’s always genuinely curious about what I’ve been up to and listens with such warmth and care. And what I love just as much is how graciously she opens up about her own life, letting me in on what’s been keeping her inspired or busy. That kind of connection is rare and something I cherish deeply.

And let’s be clear—“master stylist” isn’t just a title you earn with time; it’s something you’re born with, something you embody. Gillian has that rare, natural gift. She’s able to understand and work with so many different people, hair types, personalities, and visions—often all in a single day. The way she handles every request with grace, precision, and passion only further solidifies that she is a master stylist in every sense of the word.

Gillian has created a space where beauty, trust, and conversation meet—and that’s why I’ll be a loyal client for as long as she’s cutting hair. If you’re looking for someone who not only transforms your look but also uplifts your spirit, look no further than Gillian H. She’s the real deal through and through! I LOVEEEE GILLIAN! And you know you will too! 🫶🏻

Many thanks and...

Unfortunately, the Ulta Beauty location on Aurora Highway 99 presented several downsides during my shopping experience. As a Diamond member until 2027, I frequently spend significant amounts of money at this store each quarter. However, I have found the constant surveillance by staff to be quite disconcerting. It creates an atmosphere that detracts from an otherwise enjoyable shopping experience, where you feel you have the space and safety to sample all the variety of samples available before purchase.

The store’s extensive security measures include locking up the entire fragrance department, complicating the sampling process. I was unable to experience some fragrances fully before making a purchase. Trying fragrances before you buy is important, as individual reactions to scents can vary widely; some may cause headaches or not develop well on one’s skin. Sampling before purchasing is a critical aspect when it comes to purchasing a perfume. I don't understand how they make fragrance sales without allowing folks to sample on skin first while browsing other items in the store. Everything is locked up, including the sample bottles! And I felt like asking them to go around and sample all the fragrances would either annoy or disturb them. You can sample as much as you want at Macy's before buying. Please be more generous and have a positive attitude in this regard. I clearly wanted to purchase a fragrance as I'm an avid collector, and was trying to find a fun summer fragrance, but anyway, enough about that! Taking my fragrance business to Macy's and/or Nordstrom, where they don't limit sampling.

While it is understood that security measures are necessary, I believe greater attention could be paid to distinguishing regular, valued customers from those who may pose an issue. This does not advocate for prejudiced behavior but suggests the application of common sense in customer service practices. In contrast, I have not encountered similar issues at the Bellevue Factoria location, although I am aware that some customers there have reported concerns, including racism. Overall, maybe focus on the obvious instead, and please be respectful to your Diamond members. We don't get to Diamond by Q1 until 2027 by not spending our hard-earned money. I'll update for a more positive review of my experience if it improves next time. I miss the Northgate location which was so much bigger...

horrible, horrible service. for context, my boyfriend bought me a gift card for $100 back when the Ulta was in Northgate for valentine's day. it had been lost before I could even use or activate it, so we went here to try to exchange it, having all the physical reciepts and information he used to buy it. I was directed to a manager, who told us that there was nothing they could do in store to replace it, and gave us the guest services number instead. called the number in store, thinking it'd be an easy fix and that we could still shop there, but spent 20 minutes waiting on the line, and made it impossible to navigate to an actual person. when I could finally talk to someone, it was only to be given ANOTHER number to call that was supposedly for gift cards specifically. spent another 20 minutes waiting and trying to make sense of the random automated options just to speak to an agent. and when I finally got a hold of someone, I was told that it was the store's responsibility to exchange physical gift cards and that they should've been able to. so I tried speaking to the manager again, to see if there was any way they would even try to honor it, but was immediately dismissed, ("What are we gonna do about the card customer? Well, they're back" 😒) and condescendingly talked down to in front of everyone that there was no way for them to access the card, even though it was literally a transaction made at that store. unhelpful, unprofessional, and embarassed me in front of the entire store. the ugliest a beauty store has ever made me feel. not worth your time, money,...