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)

1. Use a Minor/Under-18 Consent for each service (PMU, lashes, facials).

2. DOB gate: add a date-of-birth field that triggers the Guardian Section when the client is under 18.

3. 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.

4. Teen acknowledgement (optional): a simple “I understand today’s service and aftercare” with the teen’s signature.

5. Medical + patch test: required yes/no for allergies, medications, skin conditions, and a patch-test date/result when relevant.

6. Aftercare + copy: show the aftercare summary and send a copy to both teen and guardian on submit.

7. 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.