Ulta Beauty 30 Ash Brook Road, Keene, NH 03431

"I wanted to do two reviews I'm making about the Ulta salon. But, I have to include two stylists in one! Way back in March, I desperately needed an Olaplex treatment, and I thought I'd chance it at the Keene Ulta. I booked with Emily and was really charmed when I met her. I immediately booked for my next, planned Olaplex treatment in May--with Emily, of course--and went on my way. I am middle-aged and my hair is porous and occasionally frizzy. Menopause has given me curls which occasionally choose not to curl. And curly hair tends to be dry. I decided to come see Emily every week for an Olaplex treatment. I really liked her! After a couple of April Olaplex treatments between Emily and another place, Emily gave me an intervention! She said, "I've been doing some research on Olaplex and I think if we do it this often, it might damage your hair. Your hair isn't damaged enough to require so much Olaplex and I think we should try a deep conditioning treatment. We can still do Olaplex, but not every week." Mind you, I had ONLY gone to Emily for a hair treatment. I have a long-time colorist and cutter. I was absolutely blown away that she'd thought so much of me and my hair to do RESEARCH on me! If I hadn't already adored her, this would have put me over the edge. Emily is young but so skilled, already, that I've been bragging on her to everyone who'll listen. I do love the fact that we have an actual relationship at this point. But, mostly I love that I am consistently impressed with her manner, her knowledge, her openness, and her dedication. I don't actually know if I NEED to see her every week, but honestly, I just can't quit her! (I can't even pause her...) There was a week that I messed up my schedule. I had to cheat on Emily, much to my guilt. I opted to cheat on her with her friend, Paeton. May I say that my love and admiration for Paeton is almost equal to my love and admiration for Emily. Paeton, too, is fresh and eager, but confident and skilled. I brag on her, too. For some reason, I always seem to rush out the door when Emily and I are together. I sort of concede to let her even put product in my hair. For some reason, I let Paeton have her way with Curlsmith products. Ten minutes after I left the salon, after looking at my hair in my rearview mirror, I rang the salon. Paeton answered. "What the hell did you do to my hair??" As Paeton had a moment of panic, I continued..."It's even curly at the root! What the hell did you USE?" She told me, and I went back to the salon on my way home and bought those products. When I cheat on Emily my guilt is only assuaged by the fact that I get to see Paeton! I can't get enough of them, individually or severally! What I love about these two young women (besides their charm and all the technical stuff) is that they present very differently, but both clearly and surely. Emily looks like she stepped out of an old-timey glamour movie. Paeton is a modern punk rocker. BUT, Emily is a thoroughly modern beauty, and Paeton is a feminine and glamorous iteration of her own. They are--for technicals' sake--of completely equal expertise and I would trust either or both of them with anything my hair (or life) needed! They also appeal to the different sides of ME. What you want in a stylist is what you want in a banana--not too green and not too ripe. No one wants a stylist who knows nothing. And no one wants a stylist who thinks they know everything and doesn't listen to what the client wants. There is a perfect balance-- a perfect give and take--in the right client-stylist relationship. Emily and Paeton know what they're doing. But, they don't know so much that they'll ignore what you want. They'll do what you need, within the parameters of making you delighted. I really love a stylist who knows who they are, cares about how they present and is clear about their image. Emily can punk you up as easily as Paeton can make you at 1930s starlet. You want a stylist who is both established and receptive, right? Trust either one of these brilliant beauties!"

"The Keene location has an employee by the name of Nichole, and she gave EXCEPTIONAL customer service! She went above and beyond customer service expectations and truly made my shopping experience an enjoyable one. She went over product options patiently, even offering her device to guide me through navigating the app. Suggested other products that have turned out to be amazing purchases! I truly appreciate her level of customer service!"

"Went back to the Keene, NH Ulta store for my second makeup lesson with Kaitlin. She recognized me and remembered me from a few weeks prior and was friendly and genuinely happy to see me. But then again it would be hard to forget a Transgender mtf person. She assumed what I was going to want to learn this visit and had all the necessary cosmetics ready. She also remembered to bring a book for me to borrow that she told me about during my previous visit. I was blown away. She is friendly, and very patient answering all of my questions. She is a gem and makes me feel comfortable in what could be an uncomfortable place as a transgender person. I look forward to my next tutorial and visit."

"I am middle aged, turning the big 50 this yr! This got me rethinking about all aspects of who was I? I began researching vitamins, clothing styles, hair etc. My beauty routine needed an update. I was skeptical due to the average staff at Ulta are young. To my surprise young or not they were amazing. The lovely young woman in the makeup dept. was able to my eyebrows in the latest fashion. I of course have a how to guide for eyebrows on my phone. She took the time to do my brows in a few different styles that I was interested in. Eyebrows and lashes are my favorite routines plus I spend the most money on them. If I had to leave the house without a full face, my brows & lashes would get done along w/lip gloss. I purchased some great products. They have prices from a couple dollars to a couple hundred. I highly recommend Ulta."

"I got a gift card to Ulta for Christmas, and decided to give the salon a try. I wanted a perm as natural looking as possible. My hair is naturally really thick, straight and long and I was nervous that whoever did my hair would be annoyed with the work. However, I got Paeton who remained enthusiastic throughout the entire visit, making my time there an amazing experience. My results were exactly what I wanted. I was really impressed with how knowledgeable Paeton was with the whole service as well as aftercare, especially for being so young. Not only does she know her stuff, but her technical skills are on point! I used to be a hairdresser so I can definitely share these opinions confidently. Highly recommend her and I'll be back! Also went in for a brow tint and wax and the Benefit brow wax & tint service with Valerie, and my brows came out *amazing*. I normally do them myself because I am so picky, but she mapped them out for me and explained what she was doing, and it didn't take long at all. I never knew Ulta salons had such great services and well trained employees, but their services are worth every cent."