Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 14, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Dark Neon ("the Company", "We", "Us", "Our") collects, uses, discloses and protects Your information when You use our website (www.darkneon.co.za) and visit our studio for tattoo or piercing services ("the Service"). This policy is aligned with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

By using the Service, booking an appointment, or providing Your information to Us, You agree to the collection and use of information as described in this Privacy Policy.

DEFINITIONS

Account means a unique account created for You to access parts of our Service, such as online bookings.

Company refers to Dark Neon, Northcliff Square, Northcliff, Johannesburg.

Cookies are small files placed on Your device by a website to store details of Your browsing activity.

Country refers to South Africa.

Personal Information has the meaning given to it under POPIA — broadly, any information relating to an identifiable, living natural person (or, where applicable, an identifiable, existing juristic person).

Special Personal Information means Personal Information as defined under POPIA that receives extra protection, including information concerning health — for us, this includes health/medical history you provide before a tattoo or piercing procedure.

Service refers to the Dark Neon website and studio services.

Service Provider means any third party that processes data on the Company's behalf (for example, booking software, payment processors, or email providers).

Usage Data refers to data collected automatically through use of the website.

You means the individual using the Service, including studio clients, website visitors, and their parents/guardians where relevant.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Information You Provide Directly

Contact details: name, email address, phone number, and address
Booking and appointment details
Health and medical history relevant to tattooing or piercing (e.g. allergies, skin conditions, medications, pregnancy status) — collected via our client intake/consent form, in order to assess suitability for the procedure and keep you safe. This is Special Personal Information under POPIA and is treated with additional care (see "Health Information" below).
Government-issued ID or proof of age, where required to confirm You meet our minimum age requirement or to verify parental/guardian consent for a minor
Payment and deposit information, processed via our payment provider (we do not store full card details ourselves)
Photographs or videos of tattoos/piercings, and any accompanying images of You, taken with Your consent for portfolio, marketing, or social media use

Information Collected Automatically (Usage Data)

IP address, browser type and version, pages visited, time and date of visit, time spent on pages, device identifiers, and similar diagnostic data, collected when You use our website

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use Cookies and similar technologies (including web beacons) to operate and improve the website. You can control Cookies through Your browser settings; disabling them may affect some website features.

Necessary/Essential Cookies (Session) — required for core website functionality and account authentication
Cookie Consent Cookies (Persistent) — remember whether You've accepted our cookie notice
Functionality Cookies (Persistent) — remember Your preferences (e.g. login details, language)

HEALTH INFORMATION (SPECIAL PERSONAL INFORMATION)

Because tattooing and piercing carry health and safety considerations, We ask clients to complete a health/medical intake form before their appointment. This information is:

Used only to assess whether the procedure is safe for You and to inform the artist of any relevant precautions
Accessed only by staff directly involved in Your procedure
Kept confidential and not used for marketing or shared with third parties except where required by law, or with Your explicit consent
Retained for the period required for insurance, liability, and legal record-keeping purposes, then securely deleted or anonymized

By completing this form, You consent to Us processing this Special Personal Information for these purposes, as permitted under POPIA.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Our Service is intended for adults. Clients must be 18 or older, or provide valid parental/guardian consent and ID where a lower age is permitted by law for certain procedures. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children without appropriate consent. If You believe a minor has provided Us with information without proper consent, please contact Us so We can remove it.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND PORTFOLIO USE

With Your explicit consent (obtained at the time of Your appointment), We may photograph or video Your tattoo/piercing for:

Our portfolio, website, and social media pages
Promotional and marketing materials

You may decline this consent without affecting the service You receive, and You may withdraw consent for future use at any time by contacting Us — see "Contact Us" below. Note that content already shared publicly (e.g. on social media) may not be fully retractable once posted.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We may use Your Personal Information to:

Provide and manage our services, including bookings and appointments
Assess health and safety suitability for a procedure
Process payments and deposits
Communicate with You about appointments, aftercare, or promotions (You can opt out of marketing communications at any time)
Showcase our work with Your consent (see above)
Improve our website and services through usage analysis
Comply with legal, insurance, or record-keeping obligations
Investigate or defend against complaints, disputes, or legal claims

We do not sell Your Personal Information.

SHARING YOUR INFORMATION

We may share information with:

Service Providers who help us operate (e.g. booking platforms, payment processors, website hosting, email/SMS providers), bound by confidentiality obligations
Legal or regulatory authorities where required by law
Professional advisors (e.g. insurers, accountants) as needed
With Your consent, for any other purpose

We do not share Your health information with third parties for marketing purposes.

DATA RETENTION

We retain Personal Information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including to meet legal, insurance, and record-keeping requirements (health/consent forms are typically retained for a period after Your procedure to meet liability and insurance obligations). Usage Data is generally retained for shorter periods unless needed for security or legal reasons.

DATA SECURITY

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect Your Personal Information, including Special Personal Information, against loss, unauthorised access, or disclosure. However, no method of storage or transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and We cannot guarantee absolute security.

YOUR RIGHTS

Under POPIA, You have the right to:

Request access to the Personal Information We hold about You
Request correction or deletion of Your Personal Information
Object to the processing of Your Personal Information in certain circumstances
Withdraw consent (e.g. for photo/portfolio use or marketing) at any time
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if You believe Your rights have been infringed

To exercise these rights, contact Us using the details below.

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

Our website may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites and encourage You to review their policies.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date, and where appropriate, We will notify You directly.

If You have questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise Your rights, contact us:

By email: bookings@darkneon.co.za Address: Northcliff Square, Northcliff, Johannesburg