Is Ulta Open On Christmas Eve? Holiday Hours & Guide

If you are racing against the clock to pick up a last-minute fragrance set, stocking stuffer, or emergency restock, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Is Ulta open on Christmas Eve? Yes, most Ulta Beauty store locations operate on December 24th, but they typically run on shortened holiday hours, usually closing by 6:00 PM to give employees time to travel and spend the holiday with family.

While the doors are open during the day, you shouldn't count on standard evening hours. Because December 24th is a high-volume shopping day across the retail sector, schedules can fluctuate depending on whether your local branch is a standalone building or tucked inside a larger shopping center. Knowing what to expect before you step out the door saves you from a wasted trip.

Typical Christmas Eve Hours at Ulta

Most nationwide Ulta Beauty stores open their doors early on Christmas Eve to accommodate frantic holiday shoppers, often welcoming customers starting at 8:00 AM or even 7:00 AM in high-demand markets. However, the closing time is firmly capped at 6:00 PM local time for the vast majority of storefronts.

Stand-alone strip-mall locations offer the most predictable schedules, while stores anchored inside regional malls are bound by the master operational hours of the property management. If a local mall decides to shut its doors at 5:00 PM on December 24th, the Ulta inside will close right alongside it.

Here is what you need to keep in mind regarding the surrounding holiday timeline:

• December 23rd: Regular business hours apply, often extended to 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM to capture last-minute rush traffic.
• Christmas Eve (December 24th): Open with shortened hours, typically 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Christmas Day (December 25th): Entirely closed nationwide. No physical stores or salon services are available.
• Boxing Day / December 26th: Reopens for regular business hours, usually from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, marking the start of post-holiday clearance events.

Why Mall-Based Locations Catch Shoppers Off Guard

The biggest trap for last-minute beauty buyers is assuming all stores operate identically. If you live near both a strip-mall location and an indoor shopping center location, you need to check individual store locators.

Mall management teams frequently alter holiday hours based on foot traffic projections or property-wide security policies. If you arrive at an indoor mall entrance at 5:30 PM on Christmas Eve only to find the rolling security gates halfway down, your local Ulta is inaccessible even if their corporate calendar lists a 6:00 PM closing time. Checking the Google Maps navigation or calling the specific store directly prevents this frustrating mix-up.

What to Do If Stores Are Already Closed

If you miss the 6:00 PM cutoff on Christmas Eve, your physical shopping options vanish until December 26th, since all brick-and-mortar storefronts and in-store salon services are dark on Christmas Day. However, digital alternatives remain active.

• Digital Gift Cards: You can purchase an electronic gift card through the website at any hour on December 24th or 25th. It lands directly in the recipient's email inbox within minutes.
• Online Browsing: While physical orders placed on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day will not ship until fulfillment centers reopen, you can secure items online to prevent them from selling out during post-holiday sales.
• Curbside Pickup Cutoffs: If you plan to use buy-online-pickup-in-store options on December 24th, submit your order well before noon. Fulfillment teams get overwhelmed by midday, and processing times stretch significantly during the afternoon rush.

Common Mistakes During Last-Minute Holiday Shopping

Rushing out the door without a strategy on December 24th usually leads to empty shelves and long lines. Avoid these frequent missteps:

1. Assuming salon services are open late: Even when retail floors remain busy until 6:00 PM, salon departments (haircuts, waxing, and brow styling) often close much earlier on Christmas Eve or shut down entirely to handle final retail transactions.
2. Ignoring inventory sync delays: The stock levels shown online can lag behind real-time store purchases during high-traffic days. That last bottle of popular perfume might sell out while you are driving to the strip mall.
3. Leaving gift cards to the physical aisles: Plastic gift card racks near the registers get heavily picked over by the afternoon of December 24th. Opting for digital delivery bypasses empty displays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Ulta salons open on Christmas Eve?

Most Ulta salon services close earlier than the retail store on Christmas Eve, and many locations suspend salon operations entirely on December 24th to focus staff on retail checkout lines. Call ahead if you need a quick blowout or makeup application.

Can I return items on Christmas Eve?

Yes, customer service counters remain operational during Christmas Eve store hours, but lines are usually long. If your return isn't urgent, waiting until after December 26th spares you a lengthy wait among gift-buyers.

Does Ulta offer curbside pickup on Christmas Eve?

Yes, curbside pickup is generally available, but you must place your order early in the day. Stores frequently disable online pickup options an hour or two before closing to clear remaining backroom queues.

What is the best time to visit Ulta on December 24th?

Arriving right when the doors open in the morning is your best strategy. Inventory is fully stocked, store aisles are clean, and checkout lines are at their shortest before the afternoon rush peaks.