Keratin treatment consent form: fumes, formaldehyde wording and the 72 hours after
A smoothing treatment is the one hair service where the air in the room is part of the consent. The client sits through heat and fumes for hours, and the product you choose matters as much as your technique. So my keratin form spends less time on the look and more on what she will breathe, what she should tell you first, and what she cannot do for three days afterwards.
This exact form is built into SlickChart: send it to your client's phone to sign before her appointment, and the smoothing aftercare goes home with her.
Set expectations on time and on "permanent"
The service box explains that a smoothing product is applied, dried in and sealed with a flat iron to cut frizz and speed up styling. It takes about 2 to 4 hours depending on length and density, and the form says outright that heat and fumes are part of it.
The last line heads off a common misunderstanding: results usually last 2.5 to 5 months, fading gradually with washing, and it is not a permanent straightener. A client who signed that sentence is not surprised in month three.
Fumes and formaldehyde, in the form's own words
This section matters most. It reads, in part:
Many smoothing products contain or release formaldehyde when heated, including some labeled "formaldehyde-free." Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
It goes on to say the treatment uses the product named in her record, with ventilation, and that the product's Safety Data Sheet is hers to read. Clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have asthma, lung or eye issues, are asked to check with their physician first.
That is my form's wording, not a ruling on any product. Before you write yours, read the instructions and Safety Data Sheet for the product you actually use, and check what your state board expects around ventilation and disclosure.
Risks and the health check
The risk list starts with the air: eye, nose, throat or lung irritation from fumes, and headache or feeling unwell from strong odor. Then the hair and scalp: redness, itching or burning; dryness, brittleness or breakage; uneven or patchy smoothing; less curl, wave or volume than before; an allergic reaction to an ingredient, even later; and color fading or a tone shift on colored hair.
The contraindication list reflects that same focus. Alongside the scalp items (cuts, sores, sunburn, infection, lice, a psoriasis or eczema flare), it asks about pregnancy or breastfeeding; asthma, lung or eye conditions; an allergy to a product ingredient; recent chemotherapy or radiation; alopecia or unusual shedding; relaxer, perm or past keratin; box dye, henna or lightener; isotretinoin or a new medication; and very damaged or fragile hair. A check opens a conversation and, where health is involved, a referral back to her physician. It is not a diagnosis.
Acknowledgements that match the product
Two lines defer to the product rather than to me. She agrees to follow aftercare, "including no washing, ponytails or clips for 0 to 72 hours if my product requires it," and she understands that color should be done before the service or wait 2 weeks after it, "per the product."
She also confirms her full history, including box dye, henna and past chemical services; that results depend on her hair and the product used; that she had a strand test or declined and signed the waiver; and that she will speak up right away if her eyes, nose, throat or chest feel irritated. The price may change if length or density differs.
Aftercare: the first 72 hours
The guide opens with: the first 72 hours let your treatment set.
- First 72 hours: hair looks very sleek, may feel a little coated, and a faint smell can linger. No washing or wetting for 0 to 72 hours, per the product, and keep hair loose: no ties, clips, tucking behind ears, hats, sweat, steam or swimming.
- Weeks 1 and 2: sulfate- and salt-free shampoo in cool or lukewarm water. No color or lightening for 2 weeks.
- Months 1 to 3: heat protectant before hot tools, weekly deep conditioning, and no washing more often than needed.
- Rebooking: frizz returning around 2.5 to 5 months is normal. Treating again too soon can dry and weaken hair.
The call-me list covers scalp itching, a rash or bumps; redness or burning that gets worse; blistering, oozing or crusting; and unusual breakage or shedding. Eye pain or a vision change means urgent eye care that day, and trouble breathing or face or throat swelling means 911.
Questions to decide for your own practice
- Which product will you name in each client's record, and where will clients read its Safety Data Sheet?
- How will you ventilate, and will you decline a client with asthma or a lung condition until her physician weighs in?
- How will you track the 2.5 to 5 month window? See rebooking for a solo practice.
- What does your state board require? Rules vary by state, so check with yours. This post is not legal or medical advice.
Use this form with your clients
SlickChart has this exact keratin and smoothing consent and aftercare built in for hair stylist subscribers. The form goes to the client's phone to sign before the visit, or she signs on your device in the chair, and any contraindication she checks is flagged for you. The aftercare lands in the client's own app, styled with your logo, and it all works alongside the Square account you already have. If that would save you paperwork, try SlickChart.
Prefer paper? The printable keratin and smoothing set, with the consent form, protocol and aftercare, is in my Etsy shop, ready to print or edit in free Canva.