Terms of Service

Welcome to Natural Beauty by Val, a brand operated by Duplan Enterprise LLC (North Carolina). By accessing or using our website, products, or services, you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use our services.

We operate from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

1. Who We Are and What We Offer

• Digital eBook — natural hair care guide
• My Crown AI — AI-powered hair and scalp photo analysis
• Virtual consultations — one-on-one hair coaching

All services are delivered virtually.

2. Eligibility

You must be 18 or older (or the age of majority where you live) to purchase.

3. Account Registration

Provide accurate information, keep your password secure, and notify us of unauthorized use. You are responsible for all activity under your account.

4. Purchases and Payment

Prices are in USD. Payments are processed by Paddle (or Stripe); their terms also apply. You authorize us to charge your selected payment method.

5. Delivery

• eBook: delivered by email after payment
• My Crown AI: results delivered within minutes
• Consultations: scheduled via the booking link after payment

6. Refund Policy

• eBook: non-refundable once delivered
• My Crown AI analysis: non-refundable once the report has been generated
• Consultations: full refund if cancelled 48+ hours before. Within 48 hours: non-refundable, one free reschedule. No-shows forfeit the fee.
• Technical errors on our end: we will redeliver, reschedule, or refund.

6a. My Crown AI Subscription Billing & Cancellation

My Crown AI is a recurring subscription billed in advance for each billing period (monthly by default). By subscribing, you authorize us to charge your payment method automatically at the start of each billing period until you cancel.

• Cancel anytime. You can cancel your subscription at any time from your account (Manage subscription) or by emailing us.
• Effective at end of current period. When you cancel, your access continues until the end of the current billing period. Your subscription is not renewed after that.
• No partial refunds. We do not refund partial months or unused time in a billing period.
• No cancellation fees. There are no fees to cancel — ever.
• Founding Member rate. If you claimed a Founding Member spot, your locked rate remains in effect for as long as your subscription stays active without interruption. If you cancel and later resubscribe, current pricing applies.
• Price changes. We may change subscription prices for future billing periods with at least 30 days' notice by email.

7. Medical Disclaimer — IMPORTANT

Natural Beauty by Val is not a medical or healthcare provider. Our eBook, My Crown AI analysis, and consultations provide general hair and scalp education — they are not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

• My Crown AI photo analysis is an educational and cosmetic tool, not a medical diagnosis.
• Always consult a licensed dermatologist, trichologist, or physician for hair loss, alopecia, scalp infections, severe dandruff, allergic reactions, or anything causing pain, bleeding, or rapid change.
• Do not delay seeking medical care because of information from us.
• Results vary. We make no guarantee about specific outcomes.

If you believe you are having a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

8. Allergy and Product Use Disclaimer

Hair and scalp products can cause allergic reactions. Read the full ingredient list, perform a 24–48 hour patch test, and discontinue use if irritation occurs. We are not responsible for adverse reactions to third-party products.

9. Intellectual Property — The Duplan Method™ & CROWNED Framework™

The Duplan Method™ and the CROWNED Framework™ (Classify, Retain, Optimize, Work with the Strand, Nourish, Educate, Develop) are proprietary methodologies developed by Valerie Duplan and owned by Duplan Enterprise LLC. All associated names, logos, curricula, downloadable materials, videos, worksheets, scan reports, courses, and related content are protected by copyright, trademark, and trade-secret law.

Your subscription or purchase grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use these materials for your own personal hair care only. You may not:

• Reproduce, republish, resell, or redistribute any part of The Duplan Method™ or CROWNED Framework™ content, in whole or in part.
• Use our content, methodology, or branding to train or fine-tune an AI model.
• Teach, license, or certify others using our methodology without a written stylist / practitioner license from us.
• Remove or alter copyright, trademark, or attribution notices.

All rights not expressly granted are reserved.

10. User Conduct

You agree not to use our services unlawfully, upload photos of anyone other than yourself (or without their permission), attempt to reverse-engineer or disrupt our systems, harass our team, or resell your account.

11. Photo Submissions to My Crown AI

By uploading a photo to My Crown AI, you confirm it is of you (or you have permission), and you grant us a limited license to process it solely to generate your analysis. See our Privacy Policy.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, services are provided "as is" without warranties. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages. Our total liability is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify Natural Beauty by Val from claims arising from your misuse of our services or violation of these Terms.

14. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access at any time for violations. You may stop using our services at any time.

15. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, USA. Disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts of Mecklenburg County, NC. Please contact us first to resolve disputes informally.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

17. Contact Us

Natural Beauty by Val — a brand operated by Duplan Enterprise LLC
[Mailing address — PO Box coming soon], Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
(EIN pending — North Carolina LLC registration in process)