Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Braids by Blinky is a professional hair braiding salon located at 10001 Derekwood Lane, Lanham, Maryland, USA. We provide protective braiding services to clients in Maryland and surrounding areas.

Phone / WhatsApp: +1 (240) 946-1670
Address: 10001 Derekwood Lane, Lanham, MD, USA

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you book an appointment, fill out our contact form, or communicate with us, we may collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Desired hair style and color preferences
• Payment information (processed securely through Stripe — we do not store card details)
• Any other information you choose to share in messages

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate location
• Browser type and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Referring website or source

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• To confirm and manage your appointment bookings
• To process your deposit payment securely
• To send you booking confirmations and reminders
• To respond to your questions and enquiries
• To improve our website and services
• To comply with legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Payments & Stripe

We use Stripe to process all deposit payments. When you pay your $30 booking deposit, your card details are entered directly into Stripe’s secure payment system. We never see or store your full card number, CVV, or banking details. Stripe’s privacy policy can be found at stripe.com/privacy.

5. Booking System

We use the Amelia booking plugin to manage appointments. When you book through our website, your booking details (name, email, phone, service selected, date and time) are stored within this system on our WordPress website. This information is used solely to manage your appointment.

6. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us understand how visitors use our site. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some features of our website.

7. Data Retention

We retain your booking and contact information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. Booking records are typically retained for up to 2 years. You may request deletion of your personal data at any time by contacting us.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal data
• Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Our website uses SSL encryption and all payments are processed through Stripe’s secure, PCI-compliant system. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Continued use of our website after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us: