I’m not in your area but found my current stylist (she didn’t stay at Ulta to long- lots of younger women working there and the drama that comes.
I just found the closest one on Yelp, called and just took the first appt. I was SUPER lucky. She hadn’t been doing air very long but was very honest about it; she could do x, or y or would refer for for complicated color.
I think you have to just take a chance