Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies Sheahaircare ("Sheahaircare", "we", "us") uses, why we use them, and how you can control them. It forms part of, and should be read together with, our Privacy Policy.
The responsible party for the purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) is FL4LL (Pty) Ltd, operator of the Sheahaircare platform, contactable at support@sheahaircare.com.
1. What cookies and similar technologies are
Cookies are small text files a website stores on your device. We also use comparable technologies — such as your browser's local storage — for the same purposes. Throughout this policy we refer to all of these simply as "cookies".
We group them into two categories: essential cookies, which we may use without your consent because the app could not function or stay secure without them, and analytics (non-essential) cookies, which we only use once you have given your consent.
2. Essential cookies
These are strictly necessary to run Sheahaircare, keep your account secure, and remember the choices you make. They do not require your consent.
- Session and authentication — keep you signed in and route your requests securely as you move around the app.
- The
shc_consentcookie — records the cookie choice you make in our consent banner (whether you accepted or rejected analytics, and the version of this policy you saw) so we do not ask you again on every visit. It lasts about six months, after which we ask again. This cookie is itself essential: storing your lawful choice is permitted without consent. - Security — help us protect the app against fraud and abuse, including our bot-protection checks on sensitive actions such as bookings and sign-in.
- Aggregate site analytics (cookieless) — we use Vercel Analytics and Vercel Speed Insights to understand overall traffic and page performance. These measure visits in aggregate without cookies and without building a profile of you, so we treat them as essential for keeping the app fast and reliable.
3. Analytics and non-essential cookies
These help us understand how people use Sheahaircare so we can improve it. We only enable them after you accept analytics in the consent banner. They stay off by default.
- PostHog product analytics — measures how features are used (for example, which steps people complete when booking) so we can improve the experience. PostHog captures nothing until you accept; if you reject, or later change your mind, it stops capturing.
4. Error monitoring (Sentry)
We use Sentry to capture technical errors and crashes so we can keep the app stable and secure. Because reliability and security are in our and your legitimate interest, core error monitoring runs whether or not you accept analytics — it records what went wrong, not your activity for marketing purposes.
Sentry's more detailed, PII-revealing features — session replay (a reconstruction of a session around an error) and the collection of additional personal identifiers — are non-essential. We keep these switched off until you accept analytics, and they switch off again if you reject.
5. How to change your choice
You are in control and can change your mind at any time.
- Cookie preferences — use the "Cookie preferences" link in the site footer to re-open the consent banner and accept or reject analytics again. Your new choice takes effect immediately.
- Browser controls — most browsers let you block or delete cookies and clear local storage through their settings. Blocking essential cookies may stop parts of the app from working.
If we make a material change to how we use cookies, we update the policy version, and the consent banner will ask you to choose again.
6. Legal basis under POPIA
Essential cookies are processed because they are necessary to provide the service you have asked for and to keep it secure. Cookieless aggregate analytics and core error monitoring are processed on the basis of our legitimate interest in running a reliable, secure platform. Non-essential analytics cookies, and Sentry's PII-revealing features, are processed only with your consent, which you may withdraw at any time.
7. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. When we do, we revise the "Last updated" date above and, where the change is material, prompt you to make your cookie choice again.
8. Contact
Questions about this policy or your choices can be sent to support@sheahaircare.com.