U.S.WEIRD NEWS
Can Ulta, a Corporate Chain, Also Be a Great Black Hair Salon?
A lawsuit alleges an Ulta salon in New York refused a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, even as videos of Black women using its salons spread.
On air: Kenji Moonfield and Chip Darnell on Best of BBNPublished
Photo: Mike Mozart · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBNWatch it as it aired: Kenji Moonfield and Chip Darnell on this story, from Best of BBN at 5:52 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “Can Ulta, a Corporate Chain, Also Be a Great Black Hair Salon?”, with reporting from Yahoo News, Q City Metro and TheGrio.
- Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 5:52 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Kenji Moonfield and Chip Darnell.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York TimesCan Ulta, a Corporate Chain, Also Be a Great Black Hair Salon?
- Yahoo NewsNYC Ulta Beauty salon sued after telling Black customer and her daughter it doesn’t ‘do their kind of hair’ facts used on air
- Q City MetroI got my hair done at Ulta Beauty's salon facts used on air
- TheGrioNYC Ulta Beauty salon sued after telling Black customer and her daughter it doesn't 'do their kind of hair' - TheGrio March 21, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBlack women are trying out textured hair services at Ulta Beauty, the big beauty chain at the end of so many strip malls, and the New York Times asks whether it can really compete with a personal stylist.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe videos are all over TikTok. Women say independent stylists keep getting pricier and stricter about booking, so the chain looks easy.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt's not all smooth.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA lawsuit alleges an Ulta salon in New York refused a mother and her seven-year-old daughter last year, and the suit says the stylist was not comfortable doing their hair.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe suit also says the manager backed it, because the customers hadn't named their hair texture when booking.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThose are allegations, and Ulta has a texture training program built with an outside expert.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA salon with a training manual. Your stylist just has a group chat.
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Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Pterantula (Terry Goss) at en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: M. Rehemtulla · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Saturday, October 31, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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