Navigating holiday retail hours can make or break your gift-giving timeline. When you need to pick up last-minute beauty sets or restock skincare staples during December, knowing exact store schedules saves wasted trips and frantic parking lot hunts.
Most Ulta Beauty locations extend their operational hours as December progresses, shifting from standard operating times to longer windows that accommodate holiday crowds. However, schedules vary by location, and major holidays bring strict closures or reduced availability. Understanding these hours, alongside smart timing strategies, ensures you get your shopping done without unnecessary stress.
Standard Holiday Season Hours and December Schedules
Ulta typically ramps up its operating hours starting in early December. While regular hours usually run from around 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM depending on the specific strip mall or standalone storefront, the holiday rush changes everything.
As foot traffic peaks in the weeks leading up to Christmas, many stores open earlier—often at 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM—and stay open later, sometimes until 10:00 PM or midnight during the final week before Christmas Eve.
- Early to Mid-December: Standard or slightly extended hours, typically 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- The Final Week Before Christmas: Extended hours kick in fully, often stretching from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM or later to handle last-minute shoppers.
- Christmas Eve: Stores open early in the morning but close sharply by 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM to allow employees to travel and celebrate the holiday.
- Christmas Day: All Ulta Beauty retail stores and salon services are completely closed. Normal operations resume on December 26th.
Because local ordinances and shopping center rules dictate specific store hours, you should always verify schedules via the Ulta Store Locator before heading out.
Black Friday and Cyber Week Hours
The holiday shopping season kicks off long before December. Thanksgiving week brings distinct schedule shifts that catch many shoppers off guard.
Ulta traditionally closes its physical stores on Thanksgiving Day, pushing its massive doorbuster sales online first. Retail doors reopen early on Black Friday—frequently as early as 6:00 AM—offering deep discounts on prestige cosmetics, hair care tools, and holiday gift sets.
Throughout Cyber Week, physical store hours remain extended, but online inventory moves faster than in-store stock. If you spot a high-demand palette or Dyson hair tool on promotion, buying online for curbside pickup or in-store pickup is often safer than waiting to find it on a shelf.
Smart Strategies for Holiday Beauty Shopping
Shopping at Ulta during peak holiday hours requires more than just knowing when the doors open. Crowds, depleted inventory of trending brands, and long checkout lines can turn a quick errand into a frustrating ordeal.
Leverage Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS)
Instead of wandering aisles looking for sold-out items, use Ulta's app or website to secure items before you leave home. Curbside pickup or in-store pickup guarantees your items are set aside, letting you bypass the main checkout queues entirely.
Timing Your Trips
If you prefer shopping in-store, go during off-peak hours. Weekday mornings right when the doors open offer the calmest environment, cleanest displays, and most attentive staff assistance. Avoid weekend afternoons and the final three days before Christmas unless you enjoy heavy foot traffic and packed parking lots.
Maximizing Rewards and Offers
December is one of the heaviest months for promotional point multipliers at Ulta. Keep an eye on your Ultamate Rewards account for targeted offers, such as earning bonus points on specific brand purchases or entire transactions. Combining these multipliers with discounted holiday beauty kits yields significant savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ulta salons open during extended holiday hours?
Salon services generally follow the store's extended hours, but availability fills up weeks in advance. If you need a holiday haircut, color, or blowout, book your appointment well before December begins.
Can I return holiday gifts after Christmas?
Ulta maintains a standard return policy where items can be returned within 60 days of purchase with a receipt for a full refund to the original payment method. Purchases made in November and December follow this same window, giving you through January and February to handle returns or exchanges.
Do holiday gift sets go on sale after Christmas?
Yes. Immediately following Christmas, remaining holiday beauty kits and seasonal collections often see marked-down clearance pricing as retailers clear shelf space for New Year inventory.
How do I check if my local store has special holiday hours?
Mall-based locations must adhere to the operating hours of the enclosing shopping center, which can differ from standalone storefronts. Always check your local listing on the official Ulta Store Locator for precise daily hours.
