Esthetician Consultation Form: What to Include

A client books a chemical peel and mentions, almost as an aside, that she's on a new medication you've never asked about. It's a genuinely small conversation, but it's exactly the kind of detail a proper consultation form is supposed to catch before it becomes a problem mid-treatment.

A consent form isn’t paperwork for its own sake. It protects the client by making sure you have what you need to treat her safely, and it protects you by documenting that the conversation happened.

things every form should cover

separate consents: treatment and photos

form, attached to the client record

What belongs on the form

The five things a proper form covers

Relevant health history: skin conditions, recent procedures, pregnancy status if relevant to the treatment
Current medications and skincare products, particularly anything that affects skin sensitivity
Known allergies or past reactions to products or treatments
Contraindications specific to the service being booked
Clear consent to the treatment itself, in plain language she actually reads

A consent form only works if the client actually reads it. Plain language beats a wall of legal text every time.

If you plan to take before-and-after photos for your portfolio or social media, that needs its own explicit yes, separate from consenting to the treatment. A client agreeing to a facial is not the same as a client agreeing to appear on your Instagram. Ask both questions clearly, and let a no to one not affect the other.

Keeping the form useful, not just filed away

Attach it to the client's record, not a separate binder

The next time she books, the form should be one tap away, not something you're digging through a filing cabinet or a different app to find.

Refresh it when something's likely changed

New medication, a new pregnancy, a new skin concern, any of these are reasons to ask again rather than assume last year's form still holds.

Check your local licensing requirements

Some treatments, chemical peels and microneedling especially, carry stricter documentation expectations in some regions. A generic template is a starting point, not a guarantee of compliance.

None of this needs to feel clinical or cold. A well-written form reads like part of the same caring conversation you’d have anyway, just written down so nothing gets missed and nothing gets forgotten by the time she’s back in your chair three months later.

Frequently asked questions

What should be included in an esthetician consultation form?

Health history relevant to the treatment, current medications and skincare products, known allergies or reactions, contraindications specific to the service, consent for the treatment itself, and separate consent if you plan to photograph results.

Is a consultation form legally required for estheticians?

Requirements vary by region and by treatment type, some services like chemical peels or microneedling carry stricter documentation expectations than a basic facial. When in doubt, check your local licensing body's requirements rather than assuming a generic template covers you.

Should I ask for photo consent separately from treatment consent?

Yes. Consenting to a treatment isn't the same as consenting to have before-and-after photos used anywhere, including your own portfolio or social media. Keep them as two distinct, clearly worded questions.

How often should a client fill out a new consultation form?

At minimum, whenever their health history could have changed, new medications, a new pregnancy, a new skin condition, and periodically even for regulars, since sensitivities and product use can shift over months without a client thinking to mention it.