La Belle African Braids Privacy Policy: Data Use & Protection

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in two broad categories: (a) Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) and (b) Non-Personally Identifiable Information (“Non-PII”).

1.1. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

• Contact/Inquiry Data. When you fill out our contact or booking forms, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, and any message or service-request details you provide.
• Account Credentials. If you create an account (e.g., to track orders or save preferences), we collect your email and a hashed password.
• Order/Purchase Data. To process purchases or appointments, we collect billing/shipping addresses and payment information (e.g., credit card number or other payment credentials). Payment processing is performed by third-party payment processors (see Section 3). We do not store raw payment card details.
• SMS Opt-In Data. If you elect to sign up for text (SMS) notifications, we collect your mobile phone number and opt-in timestamp. This data is used only for sending you the messages you requested.

1.2. Non-Personally Identifiable Information (Non-PII)

• Usage Data. We automatically collect information about how you interact with our Website, such as pages visited, time spent on pages, and error logs (e.g., “404” errors).
• Device and Technical Data. We collect your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, and device type.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies. We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies (see Section 5) to recognize you, remember your preferences, and analyze website traffic.

1.3. Methods of Collection

• Directly from You. When you enter information into forms (e.g., contact form, checkout form, account registration).
• Automatically. Through cookies, server logs, and analytics services.
• Third-Party Services. Via our payment processor, email marketing provider, and analytics providers. These services may collect or infer additional data (e.g., geographic location from IP address).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1. Service Provision and Order Fulfillment

• To process and complete your orders (e.g., scheduling braiding appointments, shipping products).
• To communicate with you about your order status, confirmations, and any customer service inquiries.

2.2. Personalization and User Experience

• To remember your preferences (e.g., preferred styling options, saved billing address).
• To tailor our content, recommendations, and promotions based on your browsing and purchase history.

2.3. Marketing and Communications

• To send you promotional emails (if you have opted in) about new products, special offers, or events.
• To send SMS notifications (if you have opted in). “You may unsubscribe at any time; see Section 7.3.2 for instructions.”

2.4. Analytics and Improvement

• To analyze Website usage, measure performance, and diagnose technical problems.
• To optimize our Website and improve our services based on aggregated data.

2.5. Legal Compliance and Safety

• To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or enforceable governmental requests.
• To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security issues, or technical problems.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share PII with third parties only in the limited circumstances described below.

3.1. Service Providers and Subcontractors

• Payment Processors. We share billing and payment details (e.g., name, billing address, transaction amount) with third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) strictly to process payments and prevent fraud.
• Shipping and Fulfillment Providers. If you purchase physical products, we provide your name, shipping address, and phone number to third-party shipping carriers (e.g., UPS, USPS) to deliver your order.
• Email Marketing Providers. With your consent, we share your email address with an email marketing service (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact) to send you newsletters, promotional offers, or service updates.
• Analytics & Advertising Partners. We share aggregated or pseudonymized usage data with analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics) to help us understand site traffic and performance. We do not share any PII (e.g., full name, email) with these partners unless explicitly stated.

3.2. SMS Messaging Providers

• If you opt in to receive SMS notifications, your mobile phone number and opt-in timestamp are shared only with our SMS aggregator/providers for the sole purpose of delivering messages you have requested. We do not share your mobile number or opt-in data with any third parties/affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

3.3. Legal and Safety Obligations

• We may disclose your Personal Information if required by law or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, investigate suspected wrongdoing, or respond to a government request.
• In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your PII may be transferred to the acquiring entity. You will be notified via email or prominent notice on our Website before any such transfer occurs.

3.4. Business Transfers

• If La Belle African Braids undergoes a business transition (e.g., merger, acquisition, restructuring), we may transfer or disclose your PII as part of that transition.

3.5. Aggregated or De-Identified Information

• We may share or publish aggregated information (e.g., “X% of our customers purchased Product A”) that does not directly identify you.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

4.1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites. They allow us to recognize your browser, remember preferences, and collect information about site usage.

4.2. Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies. Required for basic site functionality (e.g., shopping cart, secure login).
• Analytical/Performance Cookies. Collect aggregated, anonymous data about how visitors use our Website (e.g., Google Analytics). These help us improve site performance and content.
• Marketing/Advertising Cookies. Track your browsing habits to deliver targeted ads (e.g., Facebook Pixel).
• Functional Cookies. Remember your preferences (e.g., saved form data, language selection).

4.3. How to Manage Cookies

• Most browsers allow you to control cookies through settings (e.g., block all cookies, refuse third-party cookies, delete cookies).
• Disabling essential cookies may limit your ability to use certain parts of our Website.
• For more information on managing cookies, please visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

5. Data Security

5.1. Security Measures

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your PII, including:

• Encryption. TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit between your browser and our servers.
• Access Controls. Limited access to PII by employees and service providers who need it to fulfill their job functions.
• Secure Hosting. Our servers are hosted with reputable providers that maintain industry-standard security protocols.

5.2. No Absolute Guarantee

While we strive to protect your data, no security system is impenetrable. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your PII. In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected users as required by applicable law.

6. Data Retention

6.1. Retention Periods

• Order and Transaction Data. Retained for as long as necessary to fulfill legal obligations (e.g., tax and accounting requirements) or business purposes (e.g., warranty claims). Typically, order data is retained for seven (7) years.
• Account Information. Kept until you delete your account or request that we remove your PII, unless longer retention is required by law.
• Analytics & Cookies Data. Session cookies expire when your browser closes; persistent cookies remain as defined in each cookie’s settings (often 30–90 days). Usage logs are retained in aggregated, anonymized form for up to two (2) years.

6.2. Criteria for Retention

We determine retention periods based on legal requirements, business needs, and industry best practices. After a retention period ends, we delete, anonymize, or aggregate your PII so that it is no longer associated with you.

7. Your Rights

The rights described below may vary depending on your location and the applicable law (e.g., GDPR for EEA residents, CCPA for California residents).

7.1. Access and Portability

You have the right to request a copy of your PII that we hold, in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.

7.2. Correction and Deletion

You can request that we correct inaccuracies in your PII or delete certain categories of information. We will comply unless retention is required for legal or legitimate business reasons.

7.3. Opt-Out and Restriction

• Marketing Communications. You may opt out of promotional emails by clicking “unsubscribe” in any marketing email.
• SMS Messages.
  • To stop receiving SMS messages, reply “STOP” to the SMS you received or contact us at info@labelleafricanbraids.com.
  • To obtain help, reply “HELP” to any SMS message or call +1-210-999-1777.

7.4. Objection to Processing

Where we process your PII based on our legitimate interests, you may object to that processing. We will cease processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds or legal obligations to continue.

7.5. Rights for EU/EEA Residents (GDPR)

• You may withdraw consent at any time for processing based on consent.
• You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (e.g., data protection authority) if you believe your rights are violated.

7.6. Rights for California Residents (CCPA)

• You can request disclosure of categories of PII collected, sold, or disclosed for a business purpose in the last 12 months.
• You can request deletion of personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• To exercise your CCPA rights, please contact us at info@labelleafricanbraids.com or +1-210-999-1777.

8. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not directed to children under thirteen (13) years of age. We do not knowingly collect PII from children under 13. If we learn we have collected data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete it as soon as possible. If you believe we might have information from or about a child under 13, please contact us at info@labelleafricanbraids.com.

9. International Data Transfers

Your PII may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located. If you are accessing our Website from outside the United States, your data may be transferred to U.S. servers. We employ safeguards—such as Standard Contractual Clauses—to ensure appropriate protection when data is transferred internationally.

10. Links to Other Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., social media platforms, partner sites). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing them with your PII. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those third parties.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top and, if the changes are significant, provide a more prominent notice (e.g., banner on our Website or email notification). Your continued use of our Website after any updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
La Belle African Braids
4418 Walzem Road, San Antonio, TX 78218
Email: info@labelleafricanbraids.com
Phone: +1-210-999-1777