Guide
What a tattoo consent form must include
Short answer: who the client is and proof of age, health questions, the risks and the client’s confirmation of design and placement, aftercare, payment terms, photo permission and a signature with the date. Your state and county may add their own rules.
The parts of a good form
| Part | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Identity and age | Name, phone, email, date of birth and a photo ID. Minimum age for tattoos is usually 18. |
| Health | Allergies (latex, metals, pigments), medication and blood thinners, pregnancy, skin conditions at the spot, diabetes, epilepsy, heart or blood disorders, infectious diseases, fainting, alcohol or drugs in the last 24 hours. |
| Risks | Infection, allergic reaction, scarring – and that healing varies from person to person. |
| Design and placement | The client checked the design, spelling, size and placement and knows a tattoo is permanent. |
| Aftercare | The client received aftercare instructions and will follow them. |
| Payment | Deposits and payments follow the studio policy; finished work is not refundable. |
| Photos | May the studio photograph the work and share it? |
| Signature | Signature, date and time – plus an emergency contact. |
Paper or digital?
Paper forms get lost, are hard to read and are hard to find when an inspector or a client asks. A digital form on a studio tablet or the client’s phone checks the age, makes every point required, stores the ID photo and gives you a signed PDF in the client file.
Keep them – for years
Most health departments ask studios to keep signed forms for several years. Keep the form together with the session record: date, artist, placement, inks and needles with lot numbers.
How GITECHY INK helps
Ready-made forms for tattoo, piercing, permanent makeup and tooth gems in English and Spanish, with ID photo, age check, a parent or guardian for minor piercings, each point confirmed, signature and a signed PDF. Clients sign on the studio tablet (kiosk mode) or on their phone from the booking email. You add your own clauses.
Questions
Is a template enough?
A template is a good start, but have it checked for your state – some states and counties have their own wording, age rules and record keeping.
Do returning clients sign again?
Yes – a new form for each new tattoo, or at least once a year, because health answers change.
Related
Run your studio with GITECHY INK
Booking with deposits, consent forms, artist pay and aftercare – one flat price per studio, no commission on your payments.