Intake Forms: what they are and what to include

The client sits. You reach for the cleanser. Then comes the curveball: “Oh—I started a new medication.”
If your next move is hunting an old PDF, the intake isn’t doing its job.

An intake form is the short, plain-English questionnaire you collect before a service so you can work safely and professionally. It captures the facts you need (health, meds, history, contact), funnels them into client records, and sets the tone for consent and aftercare.

What an intake form is (and isn’t)

• Is: a safety + context snapshot you review before you touch a brow, lash, or face.

• Isn’t: a legal novel or a catch-all for every service you offer.

What to include (the essentials)

• Contact details and best way to reach them.

• Health flags you actually use: allergies, medications, pregnancy, recent treatments, skin conditions, patch-test date if relevant.

• Contraindication checks tuned to the service (retinoids, Accutane, active acne treatments, etc.).

• Emergency contact (short and optional if you prefer).

• Acknowledgments that you’ll pair with consent and aftercare.

Keep it under 2–3 minutes. If a question won’t change your decision or protect you, delete it.

What to skip (common bloat)

• “Everything about you since birth.”

• Duplicate questions that already live in the service consent.

• Vague prompts like “Any conditions?”—ask specifically or not at all.

Intake vs. consent—what’s the difference?

• Intake = their situation today.

• Consent = they understand the service, risks, and aftercare and agree to proceed.
  Use both. Intake informs your decision; consent proves alignment.

Digital beats paper (and why Glow Forms helps)

Paper gets lost; screenshots hide; PDFs scatter. In Glow Forms, intake answers drop straight into searchable client records with time-stamped signatures. You can pull up allergies or last patch-test mid-service, not after closing.

A tiny Tuesday example

A peel client arrives. You open her Glow Forms intake: new retinoid noted, last patch-test clean. You adjust the plan in seconds and add two photos to the treatment note. Calm, safe, on time.

10-minute setup in Glow Forms

1. Start with the Intake template for beauty/aesthetics.

2. Trim to essentials and make health items required.

3. Create service-specific consents (brows ≠ peels)

4. Add aftercare as a quick acknowledgment after the service.

5. Share the link (or send via email or embed to your website) and print one QR for the front desk.

Quick checklist (pin this)

• Short intake (2–3 minutes)

• Specific health questions, not vague ones

• Separate consent per service

• Photos + notes live in the treatment record

• Everything files into client records you can search fast

The goal isn’t “more paperwork.” It’s fewer surprises. A tight intake keeps clients safe, staff confident, and your studio running on time.