Ulta Beauty Is Reopening 180 Stores in Select States, and Hair Services Will Be Offered

If you've been itching to get back into your local Ulta Beauty store to pick up some of your favourite beauty essentials, the wait is finally over . . . if you live in one of the states that recently reopened nonessential businesses. The beauty retailer announced that on Monday, May 11, 180 store locations in Arkansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah will reopen their doors.

As a part of the reopening plan, a number of these Ulta Beauty stores will offer hair services — like haircuts, colour appointments, styling, and more, depending on your location — which is good news for those who haven't been able to access professional services in a couple of months. But shopping will look a little different, thanks to new safety measures put in place to protect both the customers and retail associates. We listed out some of the new Shop Safe Standards at Ulta Beauty ahead.

Face coverings will be worn by all associates, and they ask that guests do the same. To help shoppers maintain physical distance from one another, floor decals will indicate a six-foot separation between guests, and contactless payment options will be used. Product testers — a big part of the in-store beauty retailer experience — will no longer be available for use, and open product will be for display purposes only.

"In the past few weeks, we have introduced curbside pickup in more than 700 locations, and this Monday, we will reopen approximately 180 stores in select states," said Mary Dillion, the chief executive officer of Ulta Beauty. "Our focus has been on how to reopen safely — not just when — throughout our preparation and planning to ensure we are confident to welcome guests and associates back to Ulta Beauty."