Privacy Policy

Absolute Curls
Last updated: 19 October 2026

At Absolute Curls, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your information when you visit our website, book an appointment, receive a salon service, purchase products or communicate with us.

We handle personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), as amended.

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1. Who We Are

Absolute Curls is a sole trader business specialising in curly hair services, based in Horsforth, Leeds.

Business name: Absolute Curls
Data controller: Francesca Linsell, trading as Absolute Curls
Business address: 66 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4AP
Email: info@absolutecurls.com
Website: www.absolutecurls.com

Francesca Linsell is responsible for determining how and why personal information is processed in connection with Absolute Curls, in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us using the email address above.

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2. Information We Collect

We collect information reasonably necessary to manage our business, provide professional salon services and maintain accurate client records.

Depending on your interactions with us, this may include:

Personal and contact details

• Name, email address and telephone number.

• Age or date of birth, where relevant to the service.

• Parent or guardian details for children's appointments.

Appointment and treatment records

• Booking dates, services and appointment history.

• Consultation notes and treatment records.

• Hair type, condition, colour history and styling preferences.

• Products and treatments used.

• Recommendations, relevant photographs and service notes.

Health and safety information

• Relevant allergies, sensitivities and medical information.

• Previous reactions to products or treatments.

• Patch-test information and results.

• Other information necessary to assess treatment suitability and safety.

Payment and membership information

• Booking fees, payments, refunds and purchase history.

• Curl Rewards membership, eligible transactions and points.

Website and communication information

• Enquiries and messages.

• Email and WhatsApp marketing preferences.

• Member account information.

• Website usage, technical information and cookie preferences.

We aim to collect only the information necessary for legitimate business and treatment purposes.

 

3. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Arrange, confirm, amend and manage appointments.

• Provide consultations and professional salon services.

• Maintain accurate treatment and client records.

• Assess allergies, sensitivities and treatment suitability.

• Record patch tests and relevant safety information.

• Send appointment confirmations, reminders and preparation instructions.

• Process payments, booking fees, purchases and refunds.

• Administer Curl Rewards.

• Respond to enquiries, complaints and requests.

• Manage our accounting, insurance and legal responsibilities.

• Protect our clients, salon professionals and business.

• Send salon news and promotional updates where permitted.

• Maintain and improve our website and booking services.

We do not use medical or allergy information for marketing purposes.

 

4. Our Legal Basis for Processing Information

We process personal information only where we have an appropriate lawful basis under the UK GDPR.

These may include:

Contractual necessity: To manage bookings, provide services and process associated payments.

Legal obligations: To comply with applicable accounting, tax and other legal requirements.

Legitimate interests: To manage and protect our business, maintain appropriate treatment records, handle enquiries and complaints, and improve our services, provided these interests do not override your rights.

Consent: Where consent is required, including certain marketing communications, promotional photography and non-essential website cookies.

Where consent is relied upon, it may be withdrawn at any time without affecting processing already carried out lawfully.

 

5. Allergies, Medical Information and Patch Testing

Client safety is a priority at Absolute Curls.

We may ask for information about allergies, sensitivities, relevant medical conditions, previous product reactions or patch-test results where this is necessary to assess whether a treatment can be carried out safely.

Health information is classed as special category personal data under the UK GDPR and receives additional protection.

We process this information only where we have an appropriate Article 6 lawful basis and an additional Article 9 condition, which may include explicit consent for relevant health information or another applicable condition where legally justified.

Where we rely on explicit consent, we will request it separately and clearly.

Information is used only for relevant treatment, safety, record-keeping and lawful business purposes.

Access is restricted to authorised individuals who reasonably need the information.

Where essential safety information is unavailable, we may be unable to carry out a particular service safely.

 

6. Children's Personal Information

We provide services to children and take particular care when handling their information.

We may collect a child's name, age, appointment details, relevant treatment information and the contact details of their parent or guardian.

This information is used to arrange and provide suitable services, maintain treatment records and manage relevant safety requirements.

Where consent is required, we obtain it from the appropriate person in accordance with applicable law.

We take additional care with children's photographs and promotional permissions.

 

7. Online Bookings and Wix

Our website, online booking system and member accounts are provided through Wix.

When you book an appointment, complete a form, create an account or make a payment, relevant information may be processed through Wix and associated service providers.

This can include contact details, booking history, consultation information, payment records and member account information.

We use access permissions and appropriate security measures to help protect salon records.

Wix may process information on our behalf and, for certain activities, as an independent controller.

Further information is available in the Wix Privacy Policy:

https://www.wix.com/about/privacy

 

8. Access to Client Records by Salon Professionals

Absolute Curls works with authorised salon professionals, including self-employed stylists.

To provide a safe, professional and consistent service, authorised stylists may access relevant information through the salon's booking and client management system.

This may include:

• Viewing their appointments and associated client details.

• Reviewing relevant consultation and treatment history.

• Accessing product information, allergies, sensitivities and patch-test records where necessary.

• Adding or updating treatment notes following appointments.

• Recording relevant observations and recommendations for future visits.

Access is permitted only for legitimate salon-related purposes and should be limited to the information reasonably necessary for the professional's role.

Salon professionals are expected to handle client information confidentially, securely and in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

Client information must not be copied, retained independently, disclosed or used for unrelated purposes without an appropriate lawful basis and authorisation.

Where an individual self-employed professional independently determines how and why personal information is processed, they may have separate responsibilities under data protection law.

 

9. Payments and Financial Information

Payments made through our website are processed using the payment services available through Wix or associated providers.

We do not ordinarily receive or store complete card details entered into secure third-party payment systems.

We retain relevant payment and transaction information for booking administration, accounting, refunds, financial reconciliation and legal compliance.

 

10. Curl Rewards

Where clients participate in Curl Rewards, we process relevant membership and transaction information to administer the scheme.

This may include eligible services, points earned, points balances and rewards redeemed.

Further details are available in our Curl Rewards Terms and Conditions.

 

11. Email Marketing and WhatsApp Updates

We may offer optional email and WhatsApp updates covering appointment availability, salon news, products, services and special announcements.

Electronic marketing is sent only where permitted by applicable law, including PECR.

This may be based on consent or an applicable existing-customer marketing exception, where its requirements are satisfied.

Clients can unsubscribe from marketing at any time using an available unsubscribe facility or by emailing info@absolutecurls.com.

WhatsApp subscribers' telephone numbers are used to administer the relevant subscription and send updates.

WhatsApp is operated by Meta and is subject to its own privacy information.

Our WhatsApp updates service is not intended for individual appointment enquiries. Clients requiring a response should contact us by email.

Essential appointment communications, including confirmations, reminders and service preparation information, are separate from optional marketing communications.

 

12. Photography and Social Media

We may take photographs of clients' hair for consultation, treatment records or promotional purposes.

Where a photograph identifies an individual, it is treated as personal information.

Booking an appointment or accepting our salon Terms and Conditions does not automatically constitute permission for photographs to be used for advertising or social media.

We will obtain appropriate separate permission before using identifiable client photographs for promotional purposes, including our website, social media and advertising.

Permission for promotional photography is voluntary and is not a condition of receiving a salon service.

Clients may withdraw consent for future promotional use by contacting info@absolutecurls.com.

Where consent is withdrawn, we will stop further use and take appropriate steps regarding material under our control, subject to applicable legal requirements. Content already shared or independently retained by third parties may not always be recoverable.

Additional care is taken when seeking permission for photographs of children.

 

13. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website is created and hosted using Wix, which provides website functionality and cookie management tools.

Cookies are small files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function correctly, remember preferences and, where applicable, provide information about website usage.

Our website may use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies: Support core website functions, including security, navigation, online bookings and member accounts.

• Functional cookies: Help remember preferences and support additional website features.

• Analytics cookies: Where enabled, help us understand how visitors use our website and identify areas for improvement.

• Marketing cookies: Where enabled, may support advertising and the measurement of marketing activity.

We use Wix's cookie and consent-management functionality to help manage these technologies.

Where UK law requires consent, cookies and similar technologies must not be used until appropriate consent has been obtained. Certain cookies may be used without consent where a legal exemption applies.

Visitors can manage cookies through the privacy controls available on our website and through their browser settings.

Further information about Wix's data processing and privacy practices is available at:

https://www.wix.com/about/privacy

 

14. Sharing Personal Information

We do not sell client personal information.

We may share relevant information with trusted service providers and authorised individuals where necessary and lawful.

These may include:

• Wix and associated booking, website and hosting providers.

• Payment processors.

• Authorised self-employed stylists and salon professionals.

• Email and communication providers.

• Accounting and professional advisers.

• IT and website support providers.

• Insurers and legal advisers.

• Regulatory or law enforcement authorities where legally required.

We aim to share only the information necessary for the relevant purpose and use appropriate data protection arrangements.

 

15. International Data Transfers

Some third-party technology providers may process or store information outside the UK.

Where international transfers are subject to UK data protection restrictions, we use an applicable legal transfer mechanism or safeguard, such as UK adequacy regulations or appropriate contractual protections.

Further information about relevant transfers and safeguards may be requested using our contact details.

 

16. How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including treatment safety, ongoing client care, accounting, insurance and legal obligations.

Our intended retention approach is:

Adult client consultation and treatment records

Generally retained for up to six years after the client's last appointment, unless a longer period is reasonably necessary for a specific legal, insurance or other justified purpose.

Children's treatment records

May be retained for longer where necessary to protect the child's interests, meet insurance requirements or address potential legal claims. Appropriate retention periods are assessed with reference to the child's age and relevant legal considerations.

Allergy and patch-test records

Retained as part of relevant treatment and safety records, subject to the applicable retention period and any justified requirement to retain them longer.

Financial and transaction records

Retained for the period required under applicable tax, accounting and other legal obligations.

Marketing subscriptions

Retained while the individual remains subscribed. Limited information may be retained after unsubscribing where necessary to ensure that marketing preferences continue to be respected.

Enquiries and correspondence

Retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to the enquiry and manage any related business, legal or complaint matters.

Photographs

Retained according to their purpose, the permissions obtained and any relevant legal or record-keeping requirements.

We periodically review the information we hold and securely delete or anonymise records when they are no longer required.

Requests for deletion will be considered in accordance with applicable data protection rights and any overriding legal obligations.

 

17. Protecting Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration and disclosure.

These include appropriate system access permissions, password protection, confidentiality requirements and the use of established third-party service providers.

Access to salon records is limited according to legitimate operational requirements.

No electronic system can guarantee absolute security, but we take appropriate steps to safeguard the information entrusted to us.

 

18. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have rights relating to your personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, these include the right to:

• Access information held about you.

• Request correction of inaccurate information.

• Request deletion where applicable.

• Request restriction of certain processing.

• Object to processing based on legitimate interests.

• Object to direct marketing.

• Request data portability where applicable.

• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

• Exercise applicable rights relating to solely automated decision-making.

These rights may be subject to legal conditions and exceptions.

Requests can be made by emailing info@absolutecurls.com.

We may need to verify your identity before responding and will deal with requests within applicable legal time limits.

 

19. Automated Processing

Our website and booking systems may use automated functions to process appointments, send confirmations and reminders, and administer client accounts.

We do not currently use solely automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on clients.

If this changes, we will update our privacy information as required.

 

20. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to external websites, social media platforms and third-party services.

These organisations operate under their own privacy policies.

We recommend reviewing their privacy information before providing personal details.

 

21. Data Protection Complaints

If you have concerns about how Absolute Curls collects, uses or protects your personal information, please contact:

info@absolutecurls.com

We will acknowledge data protection complaints within 30 days, investigate appropriately and respond without undue delay.

We will provide information about the outcome and any action taken, where appropriate.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.

Website: https://ico.org.uk

You do not need to contact us before making a complaint to the ICO.

 

22. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to our services, systems, legal requirements or information-handling practices.

The latest version will be published on our website with an updated revision date.

Where changes materially affect how personal information is used, we will take appropriate steps to inform affected individuals.

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Absolute Curls
66 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4AP
www.absolutecurls.com
info@absolutecurls.com