Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 4, 2026

Welcome to RateMySalon. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and share your information when you visit our website and use our discovery and review platform (the "Platform").

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, as well as information we gather from publicly available sources.

Information You Provide to Us:

  • Account Information: When you create an account to leave a review or upload photos, we collect your email address and login credentials. Your display name, if provided, is also stored.
  • User-Generated Content: We collect the text of the reviews you write and any photos of hair or styling results that you choose to upload.
  • Verification Data: If you are a beauty professional claiming your profile, we collect your state cosmetology license number to verify your identity.
  • Contact Submissions: If you reach out via our contact form, we collect your email address, name (optional), and the content of your message.

Information We Collect from Public Sources:

  • Professional Directory Data: To power our discovery engine, we collect publicly available information from state boards of cosmetology and other public directories in the states where we currently operate (Massachusetts and Maryland). This data may include professional names, business addresses, and active license status.

Location Information:

  • Automatic Location Estimate: When you visit the Platform, we may use your IP address to estimate your general metro area. This allows us to show you stylists in your region without requiring any action on your part. This estimate is approximate and does not reveal your precise location.
  • Location You Provide: You may optionally enter a zip code or city name to refine your search results. You may also choose to use your browser's geolocation feature ("Locate Me") for more precise results. We only access your precise location when you explicitly grant permission.
  • How We Store Location Data: Your location preference is stored only in your browser's local storage on your device. We do not transmit or store your location on our servers or link it to any user account.
  • Stylist Geographic Data: For professionals listed via public records, we derive a generalized service area based on zip code-level centroids. This obfuscated geographic data does not reveal any professional's specific home or business address. No exact address data is transmitted to or displayed on the Platform.
2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following business purposes:

  • To Operate the Platform: Creating your account, displaying your reviews and photos, and allowing professionals to claim and manage their directory listings.
  • To Maintain Trust and Safety: Using verified state license numbers to ensure only licensed professionals can claim specific profiles, and monitoring accounts to prevent spam, fake reviews, or harassment.
  • To Communicate with You: Sending account-related emails, responding to support inquiries, or notifying you of changes to our Platform.
3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We only share your information in the following situations:

  • Publicly Displayed Content: Your display name, reviews, and uploaded photos are visible to anyone visiting the Platform. Professional directory listings compiled from public records are also publicly visible.
  • Service Providers: We use Supabase for database hosting and authentication. These vendors process data on our behalf and are contractually required to protect it.
  • Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information if legally required to comply with applicable law, governmental requests, court orders, or legal processes (such as responding to a DMCA subpoena).
4. Your Choices and Rights
  • Managing Your Account: You can review and update the personal information in your account settings at any time. To request full account deletion, contact us at the email below.
  • Directory Removal for Professionals: If you are listed in our directory via our public records search and wish to have your profile removed or hidden from the Platform, please contact us at the email below.
5. Data Security

We use Supabase's infrastructure, which applies industry-standard security measures, to store and protect your data. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee that unauthorized third parties will never be able to circumvent our security measures.

6. Children's Privacy

Our Platform is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

7. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy, or if you would like to request the removal of a scraped directory listing or deletion of your account, you may email us at:

privacy@RateMy.Salon