Salon Ultimo

I have normally gone to the same stylist for many years but recently she moved to another state. I was excited to try a new stylist for a new perspective and came in with a new look. Kennidi was amazing! She is so passionate about color and especially ombré & biolage. She was extremely thorough throughout the entire process and let me know what was going on at all times. I felt very comfortable with her and happy with how it turned out and styled. I will definitely be sticking with kennidi for my next color and cut.

To say I’m bummed about my hair would be a massive understatement. As a stay at home mom I get very little time to pamper myself and I never ever splurge on getting my hair done. For christmas I asked for a gift certificate to Salon Ultimo per my sister in laws referral and was very excited to get my hair colored. I had a consultation with a stylist there and was immediately impressed with how nice the salon was and how friendly the front desk staff was. I brought pictures, tried to be as descriptive as I could about what i was looking for exactly. I requested a balayage because I have really beautiful red hair that I didn’t want to lose. I knew the balayage would be super natural looking. During the consult the stylist really had no direction at all, it was a red flag but I just went along with it because afterall she is the professional. She was very sweet but I left the consultation feeling like she really had no idea what I wanted. Two weeks later, the day of my appointment I again brought in a picture that showed exactly what i wanted because my fear was that it was going to just end up one solid color, and I really didn’t want to lose the reddish tint to my hair. She foiled my hair for hours, said about 3 words to me, gave me an amazing scalp massage and brought me back to the chair to blow dry my hair. The more she blow dried, the more my heart sank. Other than a couple inches on the top of my head and a few pieces underneath my hair is completely blonde. Not only does it not look natural, its pretty much just solid blonde. I’m actually in tears as I type this because A) It looks not at all what I asked for and I’m not sure I even want to go back to her to have it corrected because I fear it will just make it worse and look even more unnatural and B) because even though im so upset about it I don’t want to hurt her feelings. The stylist said she would call me in a couple days because I told her right away it wasn’t what I thought it would be and I haven’t heard from her yet. It’s been 3 days. After talking to a couple of my friends who have balayage and telling them what happened they were really shocked that foils were used. They said their stylists hand painted natural looking hightlights in their hair and I instead had all over foils. :(
Update: going in today to get it fixed a little. Happy with their communication to make this right. They do stand behind their services and want their customers happy.

I started going here, when I received a gift card. I have only had pedicures and waxes done and come in only a few times a year. They always address me by name and the one time in several years I had an issue with my pedicure, they made it right, immediately. I really look forward to when I can pamper myself and I appreciate a separate pedicure room, very relaxing.

I got a gift card for Salon Ultimo and I booked a facial with Debbie. She is fantastic and great!!! I would definitely go back to her and I give her a 5star rating. It was relaxing and she was super nice and down to earth. I would recommend her to everyone! The following day I went in for a haircut and it was okay. I didnt really care for my stylist she seemed to be trying too hard to be nice to me. I wouldn’t go back for a hair service here but for a facial I would! It was $ 40 for my haircut and $ 45 for my facial, and in my opinion it was too much for a haircut. To be honest I wouldn’t mind paying more for that facial because it was that awesome.

Love this place!!! Everyone is super nice and friendly. Will not go anywhere else!

WhenI called to make an appointment I notified the individual I had long curly hair and wanted a blowout. She said the price would range from $ 25 – 34 with the person I was scheduled with. I confirmed the price would be no more than $ 34 and the individual said that was correct. I went in for my appointment today and while I was in the chair with my stylist, another stylist yells across from about 5 – 10 feet away in front of other clients asking her how she was doing on time. I thought that was pretty unprofessional. She continues on ranting from her station to me about how time impacts fees charged. When I come the front desk to pay for my service, this same lady is at the front now and proceeds to continue talking to me about how this one time they will honor the charge of $ 32 charged by my stylist but in the future my blowout will be $ 60. THAT IS A RIP OFF! I have worked in various salons way more upscale than this one and have never EVER paid $ 60 for a blowout. That’s almost double! You aren’t washing two heads and using product enough for two heads… I can see an addition $ 10 – 15 additional– BUT NOT DOUBLE! First off, for a Wednesday at noon, this salon was not very busy at all… I can see why. Secondly, for the prices these people quote, there should not even EXIST a flat iron in their establishment. I like the way my stylist did my hair, but she did use a flat iron a good bit. I could use my flat iron for free. For $ 60 hahahaha, they should blow out each strand piece by piece. Save yourselves the drama… this place has mediocre talent with a boosted NYC/​Los Angeles ego… Sometimes your ego is not your amigo ;)
************ ¾/​2015 Update to my review above based on Chris’s response below…
I am unclear why Chris is stating that she did not tell me my blowout would be $ 60 moving forward. She ABSOLUTELY did. I don’t respond well to misstatements.
I received the following message from the Salon Manager Molly about a week ago:
Unilocal
Hi Ronnie, Chris S. sent you a message on Unilocal:
Subject: Your Review
«Ronnie, I am so sorry and so embarrassed by your experience. I am the manager and was at the front desk when the owner was trying to explain the prices to you. After you left we did discuss how the proper way to charge would be and I apologize that you had to go through that. I’m speechless and reading your your review broke me down. The staff at Salon Ultimo pride themselves in customer service and the fact that one experience with the owner (who didn’t even do your hair) compelled you to leave this make me so sad. This review impacts 32 other employees and I hope in the future you could give us or the business you are leaving a review on a call to discuss before writing something like this. Don’t get me wrong your feelings are very valid and I don’t disagree with most of what you said. If you visit
-… and read other reviews I hope you could see that this is not a normal situation and that does not make it right but the way you spoke is just not true. Thank you for your time and again I cant say I am sorry enough. Molly 651.738.5904»
I stated the facts of my visit in my initial review above as well as my opinions of your overall business… I did not respond to the Salon Manager Molly’s communication simply because she was at the front desk the entire time Chris and I went back and forth regarding the $ 60 future charge for my blowout AND SHE SAID NOTHING! Why would I call to discuss the review with her before I posted it on Unilocal when she was there? It seems to me that the review I left was upsetting to the business and would have worked out better for me if I had given Chris and Molly the heads up that I was going to leave a negative review. Unfortunately, that’s not how you treat people in business… And terrible customer service as well. At the time, I walked out of their establishment angry and insulted. Only after I post the Unilocal review do they care enough to apologize in one instance and almost chastise me in another for my opinion of the business. The mistruth about the $ 45 charge vs. the actual $ 60 charge is even more insulting to me. PITIFUL.

I was referred by a neighbor to Lisa at Salon Ultimo for a haircut. I really needed a trim. The average woman’s cut in Woodbury, MN is about $ 30.00. She charged $ 51.00 plus my tip. WOW. I think the price should have been quoted when I scheduled the appointment. when it is so far above market. I am not saying no one should get that price. I am saying I would never have paid that if I had known. The haircut was average. She took off about a half an inch and it was a super simple trim.

Love this place now — which is funny as I didn’t like it at first. I’ve been here a number of times for the past 3 – 4 years and only the first time here was when I wasn’t too happy with service. I got a pedicure here the first time, it wasn’t the best and didn’t last for long, needless to say I was quite disappointed! After that, I get my pedicures elsewhere (cheaper and better places), but I LOVE the shellac manicures by Kate, she is the best!!! Have gotten many of them and they are superb every time. Hair cuts are also awesome, just need to make sure you find a stylist you like that really knows what you want! Always friendly staff and offer you beverages as soon as you walk in. Definitely a great salon find on this side of town! :)

DO NOT GET A BIKINI/​BRAZILIAN HERE!
Went in for a brazilian, I literally ran out crying. I required a little trimming before the wax application and something VERY IMPORTANT was CUT!!!
Of course I didn’t pay for it. No apology from management but then again I ran out crying and still had wax in unmentionable places.
I can not believe this happened to me…

Loved the gift bag for new customers!

Wax with Debbie!
A million years ago, okay maybe 12, I got a gift card for a facial and massage at Salon Ultimo. I decided to throw in an eye brow wax as well.
That was the beginning. I’ve tried a bunch of other places for eyebrow waxes, but I always come back to Debbie. She’s a perfectionist who really crafts the eyebrows.
This is also the only place who has taken great care with my super sensitive skin when getting a lip wax. Most of the waxers are good, but Debbie is great. And at $ 18 I think it’s a deal. Plus, I can schedule online.

I LOVE Salon Ultimo. I have been going there since last September and have not made an appointment anywhere else since.
The staff is very nice and accommodating from the time you step into the door until you leave. I always have Cassie do my color and cut, and Molly at the front desk is always super friendly and helpful.
Clients are always offered a beverage while waiting or while during service. I just love that you can put your feet up while you wait for your hair color to set, and when you are getting your hair washed!
They also feature a very cute boutique and the best of the best hair products around.
* I just updated my Rating to 5-​star. I was in last week… TWICE. For a foil/​cut and a Shellac Manicure. They did their best to get me in on a shorter notice, and make sure that I had my favorite stylist. My hair is great as always, and the Shellac was done phenomenally!
This place is all that and then some!

I have had tons of pedicures but NONE compare to the Raw Earth Pedicure with Katie.
The pedicures are performed in a quiet room overlooking the salon area– there are only 2 pedicure chairs which is a definite plus.
The products are Aveda, the staff are beyond friendly and the pedicures are worth every penny.

Best. Manicure. Ever.
I love pedicures but hate manicures. It’s one of life’s mysteries and one of those personality quirks I may never understand about myself. I do not like manicures because:
1) I’m uncomfortable being touched by strangers, I totally have to psych myself up for it in advance.
2) My hands are high on the list of things I dislike about my body and having them on display makes me nervous.
3) I have weak nails so I usually keep them very, very, very short. When you’re already feeling neurotic about being touched by a stranger who starts filing a fingernail that’s barely there, it’s the skeeviest nails on a chalkboard feeling known to woman. And I’m not even kidding. It sends shivers and chills up my spine and it becomes nearly impossible for me to stop myself from visibly shuddering and cringing away from the person who is convinced they’re doing me a service.
After having a manicure here, I may have become a convert.
It may have helped significantly that I’ve been protecting my weak nails like it was my JOB for the past couple months in an attempt to grow them out for my wedding. I’ve never had fake nails and it’s a sure thing that I’d end up stabbing myself in the eye ball every morning putting in contacts so I knew I didn’t want to go that route.
Since this is an Aveda salon, they’re big on the natural stuff and don’t do fake nails, so that’s already a big plus in my book. Hands down, there is nothing more glamorous than a natural French manicure.
The products they use are also less smelly and abrasive than what you’ll encounter in a normal salon. I wasn’t high when I left the salon, so that was also much appreciated.
Best of all, the manicure was perfect and looked new for an entire week. It didn’t start to chip and look funky until day 8. And it didn’t become really ugly until day 11. I’m impressed.

When I was in junior high, Salon Ultimo was *the* place to get your hair cut. The salon itself has hardly changed, so when I walked in earlier this week, I felt 13 again!
GETTING AN APPT: They have an online booking system! Love it!
Below are the services I’ve had:
I went in for a wax with Julia. Now, I love my waxer at Juut, but she *is* expensive, and honestly, my armpits and legs don’t need the same gentle, expensive care as my bikini line :) I did find a lot of wax on my legs when I got home. Pain was average. Irritation was average. I will continue to look for a regular leg/​armpit waxer.
I really like Katie for manicures. For events, I like a natural looking french manicure, which I’ve had a hard time getting at cheaper salons, but Katie understood exactly what I wanted, and I’m so pleased by the results. The manicures take a long time — the paraffin manicure took a full hour, and the basic mani takes 45 minutes. The paraffin mani was nice, but not worth the extra $ 13 (or 15 minutes), in my opinion. Good nail shaping, good cuticle maintenance, good polish application. A basic french mani is $ 26, so noticeably more expensive than a cheap salon, but still quite a deal, I think. I’ll definitely continue to go to her when I have a special event coming up. I won’t go to her for regular weekly manis for two reasons — the added cost (an extra ~$ 10 every week adds up!) and I’m more of an in-​and-​out kind of girl (Whereas this salon is more of the pampering type)
I’ve had one hair cut with Kirsten. It was a fine cut, not fantastic, but better than you’d get at a cheap salon. It was $ 40, which I think is the mid-​range for Salon Ultimo. The hair wash was actually a little stressful. the chairs are such that you’re almost sitting completely upright in a normal chair. So, as she washed my hair, there were a lot of drips onto my face, into my ears and eyes.