Consent for Under 18 Clients: What You Need to Know
A mom books for her 16-year-old and asks, “Do I need to be there to sign?”
If you hesitate, that’s your system telling on you.
Here’s the no-drama way to handle minors: clear roles, the right signatures, and proof that’s easy to find later. This is practical guidance—not legal advice—so always follow your local rules.
What must be different for under-18 clients
Guardian permission: a parent or legal guardian must sign the service consent.
Identity + relationship: you record who signed and how they’re related.
Age-appropriate services: some treatments are off-limits; others need patch tests or extra checks.
Aftercare accountability: guardian sees and confirms the aftercare, not just the teen.
The clean Glow Forms setup (10–15 minutes)
Use a Minor/Under-18 Consent for each service (PMU, lashes, facials).
DOB gate: add a date-of-birth field that triggers the Guardian Section when the client is under 18.
Guardian block (required):
Full name + relationship dropdown (Parent, Legal Guardian, Other).
Contact email/phone.
Optional photo/ID upload field (store privately in the client record).
Guardian signature placed directly under the risk/consent bullets.
Teen acknowledgement (optional): a simple “I understand today’s service and aftercare” with the teen’s signature.
Medical + patch test: required yes/no for allergies, medications, skin conditions, and a patch-test date/result when relevant.
Aftercare + copy: show the aftercare summary and send a copy to both teen and guardian on submit.
Photo/Video Release: separate, clearly optional; allow exclusions
What to include in a minor consent (plain-English bullets)
The exact service, normal effects, and realistic outcomes.
Specific risks (irritation, redness, sensitivity, pigment fade, etc.).
Age-based notes (e.g., no PMU under X age in our studio).
Patch-test requirement and how long to wait after the result.
Aftercare expectations and contact info for concerns.
Front-desk flow that avoids awkward conversations
In confirmation: “If the client is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the consent”
At arrival: one QR opens the same form; guardian reviews and signs on the spot if they didn’t pre-fill.
In the chair: you open the client record and verify the guardian signature before starting.
Tiny scripts (copy/paste)
Booking: “Because she’s under 18, a parent or legal guardian needs to sign the consent. It’s a quick link—takes about two minutes.”
At check-in: “I’ll just confirm the guardian signature and patch-test note, then we’ll begin.”
Aftercare: “I’ve emailed the aftercare to both of you—reply if anything feels off.”
Common mistakes with minors (and the fix)
Teen signs alone. Fix: DOB gate + guardian block with required signature.
Verbal permission only. Fix: store a time-stamped signature in the record.
No patch-test when policy requires one. Fix: add a mandatory patch-test field with date/result.
Aftercare only sent to the teen. Fix: send to both emails on submit.
Quick checklist (pin this)
DOB gate → reveals Guardian Section for under-18
Guardian identity, relationship, and signature captured
Teen acknowledgement (optional), aftercare to both
Patch-test field when required;
Separate Photo/Video Release with exclusions
Everything time-stamped in client records
Handled well, minor appointments feel calm and professional—for you, the client, and the parent. Clear consent now means fewer questions later.
