A client under 18: do you need a parent’s consent?

01A booking from a fifteen-year-old

A lash extension booking comes in, and from the name and voice you realise the client is fifteen. May you do it? Do you need a parent's permission? And what if the client says their mum is fine with it, but nobody confirms it?

This article covers what rules can require, where there are no specific rules, and what careful professionals do anyway. The rules differ by country, and this isn't legal advice. If you're unsure about a specific treatment, check the current rules where you work or ask a lawyer.

02What the rules can require

Many countries have specific rules for tattooing, micropigmentation (permanent make-up) and piercing. In Latvia, for example, Cabinet Regulation No. 182 says these services may be provided to someone under 18 only with the consent of at least one parent or legal guardian.

If you offer one of these treatments where such a rule applies, consent isn't a courtesy but a requirement. Without it you may not treat a minor.

03Nails, lashes, cosmetology

Many everyday treatments have no rule that specific. That doesn't mean age doesn't matter. Some treatments carry real risk:

• Lash extensions and lash lifts, where glue and chemicals can cause allergies.
• Peels and chemical facials, where the skin's reaction is unpredictable.
• Waxing and similar treatments, which can hurt or leave irritation.
• Gel or acrylic nails, where materials can cause sensitivity.

If a reaction appears afterwards, the parents will ask why nobody asked them. Written consent protects both the client and you at that moment.

04What goes into a good consent form

1. The client's name and age, plus the parent's or legal guardian's name.
2. The treatment being consented to, and the date.
3. The risks, such as a possible allergy, in plain words.
4. Questions about allergies and health that could affect the treatment.
5. The parent's signature and a contact in case something needs checking.

The parent doesn't have to come along. The form can be sent ahead to fill in and sign at home, or the parent can confirm it electronically. What matters is that consent arrives before the treatment, not after.

05How to tell the client and the parents

Teenagers often feel awkward being asked for a parent's permission. Present it as normal procedure, not distrust:

06If there’s no consent

If consent is required for the treatment, don't go ahead without it, even if the client has arrived and is upset. If it isn't required but you ask for it, apply your rule the same way to everyone.

To keep this from happening at the door, mention the form at booking. And if you want bookings made only with real intent, a deposit helps: how to ask for one kindly is covered in How to ask for a deposit without upsetting clients.

07How it works in RINDIQ

In RINDIQ you can switch on “Consent form required for under-18 clients” for any service. When a client books that service, the booking form shows a checkbox they can tick to say they are under 18.

The client then gets a reminder about the consent form in their confirmation email, and the booking shows an “18−” mark in your calendar. That way the specialist knows in advance to prepare the form. If a booking has several treatments, the mark is added only to the ones that need consent.