What to Include in Hair Salon Consent Forms & Why You Need Them

Running a successful hair salon goes beyond creating hairstyles. You’re also responsible for client safety, insurance and protecting your business (as well as marketing, client management, reporting and making money to name just a few).

You’ll probably need to ask clients to complete a hair salon consent form to stay in the terms of your insurance, but they’re a good idea to protect your clients and your business too. They can also act as record cards so you can keep it consistent for your clients.

Wondering what to include in your hair salon consent forms? We’ve got you.

Why you need hair salon consent forms

We’ve already touched on some of the reasons why you might need hair salon consent forms, but let’s break it down a little further. It can be tempting to skip it, especially if you’re busy or you’ve known a client for a while but it only takes one time for you to realise why you should have had one completed each time.

Here’s why you should be getting every single client to sign a consent form every single time:

• Liability protection – consent forms provide a legal record of the client’s acknowledgment of the service’s risks and their agreement to proceed. This helps protect your salon from potential lawsuits.
• Client safety – collecting information about allergies and health conditions ensures that you can take appropriate precautions to prevent adverse reactions during services.
• Service clarity – detailed consent forms help avoid misunderstandings between you and your clients. They serve as a reference point for agreed-upon services and prices.
• Documentation – consent forms provide a documented history of each client’s services, allowing you to track preferences and outcomes for future appointments.

What to include in your hair salon consent forms

Here’s an overview of what you need to include in your hair salon consent forms. It’s important to familiarise yourself with the needs of your insurance company too, to make sure that your salon consent forms covers everything you need in line with your policy.

Client information

Collecting client information is essential for maintaining a record of who received the service and for contacting them in case of any issues or emergencies. As a minimum you should include:

• Full Name
• Contact Information (phone number, email address)
• Emergency Contact Information

Service details

Clearly outlining the service details ensures that both you and your client are on the same page regarding the expectations and cost. It means if there’s any confusion later you can refer back to the service details clearly. When it comes to the service, here’s what to include:

• Description of the requested service (e.g., haircut, colour, perm)
• Service price
• Duration of the service
• Date and time of the appointment

Health and allergies

Knowledge of allergies and health conditions is critical for selecting and applying products safely and avoiding adverse reactions. Here’s what to ask on your form:

• Any known allergies or sensitivities (e.g., to hair dyes or chemicals)
• Current health conditions or medications

Consent to services

This section protects the salon from liability and ensures that clients are aware of potential risks and agree to proceed. This can be essential if anything goes wrong and it moves to a legal setting. Take advice from your insurance company and a legal expert on this but you should ideally include:

• A statement where the client gives their consent for the requested service
• A waiver indicating that the client understands the potential risks associated with the service

Before and after permissions

Photos are useful for documenting the client’s preferences and the outcomes of the service, which can be valuable for future appointments. Make sure you get permission for this in case any clients decide to bring it up later. Ask them to complete the following:

• Permission to take before and after photos of the client’s hair
• Their consent to use them for marketing material and on social media.

Cancellation and refund policy

Clear policies help manage client expectations and prevent disputes. Ask them to read and sign a section that covers the following:

• Explanation of your salon’s cancellation and refund policy

Readyhubb’s built-in consent forms

For beauty business owners using Readyhubb , you have the advantage of built-in consent forms. Readyhubb lets you automatically send these forms to your clients before their appointments, streamlining the process and meaning that you have the necessary information and permissions in place. This feature saves you time and protects you and your business.

Hair salon consent forms are a vital aspect of managing a salon effectively and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of your clients. They serve as legal documents that protect both you and your clients, outline expectations, and provide a documented history of services. If you’re using Readyhubb, take advantage of its built-in consent forms to simplify the process and enhance your salon’s professionalism and efficiency.