by Jeroslyn JoVonn
March 20, 2026
Lauren Smith and her 7-year-old daughter allege they had been denied service at a Manhattan location regardless of confirmed appointments.
An Ulta Magnificence salon in New York Metropolis’s upscale Higher East Facet is dealing with backlash after a lawsuit revealed workers allegedly refused service to a Black buyer and her younger daughter, telling them they don’t deal with their “form of hair.”
A racial discrimination lawsuit filed in federal courtroom in Manhattan outlines what allegedly occurred when Lauren Smith and her 7-year-old daughter, recognized as C.M., visited Ulta Magnificence’s East 86th St. location on July 6, 2025, and had been denied service, Gothamist reported. In response to the grievance, workers cited their hair “sort” and “texture,” claimed inexperience with “your form of hair,” and criticized them for not disclosing prematurely “what sort of hair” that they had.
The lawsuit claims the mom and daughter had their hair absolutely lined in locs throughout the interplay, and that no worker truly examined it. The plaintiffs, each skilled fashions, say they arrived for confirmed hair appointments on the East 86th Road location forward of a photoshoot however had been denied service.
In response to the lawsuit, their stylist mentioned she was “not snug” working with their hair sort, and a retailer supervisor backed the refusal, criticizing them for not specifying their hair texture when reserving. The grievance alleges the reason was a pretext for race-based discrimination.
“This discriminatory therapy occurred in full view of different prospects, inflicting extreme humiliation to Ms. Smith and traumatic misery to her 7-year-old daughter, who left the shop crying hysterically and asking, ‘What’s incorrect with my hair?’ and ‘Why can’t I am going there if there are brown women [in ads] on the partitions?’” the grievance states.
The lawsuit argues the salon’s refusal violates New York State Human Rights Legislation, which bans discrimination based mostly on traits linked to race, together with hair texture, in addition to state cosmetology guidelines requiring stylists to serve all hair varieties. It additionally alleges violations of federal civil rights legislation.
Citing broader inequities, the grievance notes many individuals with textured hair lack entry to educated stylists and calls the incident a part of a wider sample of discrimination. The go well with seeks damages, mandated coaching for employees, and different aid.
The grievance, filed by lawyer Wendy Dolce, alleges the incident displays a broader sample of “systemic company indifference” at Ulta Magnificence, citing previous experiences and claims of comparable habits. It references 2019 allegations from workers accusing the corporate of racial profiling — claims Ulta denied on the time, saying it was “disillusioned” and reaffirming its dedication to “equality, inclusivity, and acceptance.”
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