Alright, let’s talk about cookies. And NO, I’m not talking about the delicious kind we sometimes have in our salon waiting area (though those chocolate chip ones from the bakery down the street are AMAZING). I’m talking about the digital kind that help our website work properly.
What Are Cookies Anyway?
Think of cookies as tiny digital sticky notes that our website leaves on your computer or phone. They remember stuff like whether you’re logged in, what’s in your shopping cart, or that you prefer booking appointments on Saturdays.
When I first learned about website cookies, I was SO confused. My web developer kept explaining “session management” and “user preferences,” and honestly? It sounded like gibberish. But after using our booking system for a few years, I get it now. These little files make everything work smoother.
Why Do We Use Cookies?
Making Life Easier Remember when you started booking an appointment last week but got interrupted by a phone call? Cookies help our website remember where you left off. Without them, you’d have to start over EVERY single time. Trust me, that gets old fast.
Keeping You Logged In If you create an account with us, cookies remember that you’re logged in. Otherwise, you’d have to enter your password every time you clicked to a new page. Super annoying, right?
Remembering Your Preferences Prefer to book evening appointments? Always want email confirmations instead of texts? Cookies help us remember these little details that make your experience better.
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies (The Must-Haves) These cookies are like the foundation of a house. Without them, our website basically falls apart. They handle things like:
- Keeping your appointment booking session active
- Making sure the “Contact Us” form actually sends your message
- Preventing security issues when you’re browsing
You can’t turn these off without breaking the website. Sorry, but that’s just how it works.
Analytics Cookies (The Curious Ones) These cookies help us understand what’s happening on our website. Are people finding our services page easily? Do they spend more time reading about bridal packages or party makeup? This information helps us make the website better.
I’ll be honest, when we first started tracking this stuff, I was surprised by what we learned. Turns out, way more people were interested in our skincare prep tips than I expected. Who knew?
Marketing Cookies (The Helpful Ones) These cookies help us show you relevant content and remember if you’ve already seen certain promotions. They also help us understand which marketing efforts are actually working.
For example, if you came to our website after seeing our Facebook ad about bridal services, these cookies help us know that Facebook advertising is worth the money.
Specific Cookies We Use
Let me break down the actual cookies you might see:
| Cookie Name | What It Does | How Long It Stays |
|---|---|---|
| session_id | Keeps you logged in during your visit | Until you close your browser |
| booking_preferences | Remembers your appointment preferences | 30 days |
| analytics_visitor | Helps us count unique visitors | 2 years |
| marketing_source | Tracks how you found our website | 30 days |
| cookie_consent | Remembers your cookie preferences | 1 year |
Third-Party Cookies Sometimes other companies’ cookies end up on our website too. This happens when we use tools like:
- Google Analytics (helps us understand website traffic)
- Facebook Pixel (tracks effectiveness of our social media ads)
- Booking system integration (our appointment scheduler)
We trust these companies, but they have their own cookie policies. If you’re curious about their practices, check their websites directly.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Browser Settings Every web browser lets you control cookies. You can:
- Block all cookies (but our website might not work properly)
- Allow only essential cookies
- Delete existing cookies
- Set cookies to be deleted when you close your browser
Our Cookie Banner When you first visit our website, you’ll see a banner asking about cookies. You can choose to accept all cookies, reject non-essential ones, or customize your preferences.
Changed your mind later? Look for the “Cookie Preferences” link at the bottom of any page.
What Happens If You Say No? If you reject non-essential cookies:
- You can still browse our website and book appointments
- We won’t track your behavior for analytics
- You might see less relevant content
- Some features might not work as smoothly
Mobile Apps and Cookies
We don’t have a mobile app yet (though it’s on our wishlist for next year). But if you use our website on your phone, the same cookie rules apply.
Cookies and Your Privacy
Here’s something IMPORTANT: cookies by themselves can’t access your personal files or install viruses. They’re just text files with basic information.
However, cookies can track your browsing behavior across websites. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can limit or block them through your browser settings.
We never sell cookie data to other companies. The information we collect stays with us or our trusted service providers (like Google Analytics).
Updates to Our Cookie Policy
Technology changes fast. New types of cookies get invented, laws get updated, and we occasionally add new features to our website. When any of this affects how we use cookies, we’ll update this policy.
How We’ll Tell You About Changes:
- Update the “Last Updated” date at the top
- Send emails to clients who’ve signed up for our newsletter
- Post notices on our social media
- Add a notification banner on our website for major changes
Questions About Cookies?
Look, I get it. Cookie policies can be confusing. Even after running this website for years, I sometimes need our tech guy to explain new cookie features to me.
If you have questions, just ask! We’re here to help, not hide behind technical jargon.
Common questions we get:
- “Why does your website need so many cookies?”
- “Can I use your booking system without cookies?”
- “How do I delete cookies from my browser?”
- “Are cookies safe?”
The Bottom Line
Cookies help our website work better and give you a smoother experience. We use them responsibly and don’t share your information with random companies.
You have control over which cookies you accept. Our website will work with just the essential ones, though some features might not be as convenient.