Consultations - do you do them?

[Lynne Baker]

Every now and again I go and have a treatment at a different beauty salon to see what's going on out there in the big, wide world.
Recently I had two treatments; a facial in one, and a back, neck and shoulder massage in the other.
Last year I had Hopi ear candling, a facial and a hot stone massage, making a total of 5 treatments in 5 different salons.
I was a tad unsettled because in NOT ONE of these salons was a pre treatment consultation carried out. Not one. So, I wasn't asked if I was taking any meds, allergic to anything, or if I was pregnant.

Now, in my little salon, you don't get even a brow shape without a consultation. Yes, some people get cross about being asked "all these questions", but them's the rules.

So, what I want to know is this:

Do you carry out consultations?
If yes, is it for everything? What treatment would you carry out without one?
If no, why not? Would you like to, but your manager won't let you? Or do you not see the point in it? Or some other reason?

Poll coming in a minute!

If you can answer honestly I'd be very grateful. I've made the poll anonymous, so you can answer truthfully without fear of repercussions.

I'm beginning to think it's just me!

Thanks.

 

[Deb2208]

Although trained in beauty and massage, I only do nails.
As I'm mobile I will give the client the client profile form to complete while I set up, 99% of clients do complete, but a few do not as they are too busy watching me.
I have to be honest, if I'm running back to back I don't nag them to complete.
I need to nag.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[email protected]

 

[Jack Dunn]

Yes I also do my client consulation forms for all my treatments.
Jack

 

[jujojones]

i work in a hair and beauty salon, the owner is a hairdresser so does not understand the need for 'silly consultations' time is money in her eyes! it makes me so sad & mad!! i do insist on at least a small consultation for everything - but for massage etc im always at loggerheads with her as i do a full consultation! what saddens me is that the other 3 girls i work with dont do any at all!! its these 'little' things that belittle our professionalism, ive studied for years on the impact massage and aromatherapy can have on health (both good & bad) - but by not doing consultations etc this under minds everything as 'its just a massage'

however what drives me even madder is that my clients come back to me as i do take the time to consult and individualise treatment - but my boss cant see this! (I cannot wait to open my own place - just waiting for the right property, then i can do things correctly)

 

[hellishbellish]

Yep I do them for every single treatment. I think they are perhaps a little excessive as I have 5 different ones but I decided on that as I need to know different things for different treatments. People do get a bit peeved sometimes but no one else in my area does this at all. I went to a salon for about 4 years before training and I never had a consultation, so this place had absolutely no record of my number, address, medical details etc. People do get peeved sometimes but I do it this way to make myself more professional, plus it only takes one and your business is down the pan!

 

[Kamosa]

Absolutely do consultation forms every time and I get them signed by the client. No one seems to mind doing them as they realise the importance of some of the questions asked.

 

[weezie]

I always do them and if they are not done when I go for a treatment it puts me off. Interestingly when I had someone damage my skin during a microdermabrasion and I told BABTAC (their insurer) about my treatment and that they hadn't even done a consultation, they said "that's not good" but they have a sticker up saying they still ensure the salon so if they are still getting insured then they will carry on bad practice.

 

[Redduck]

I have one consulation form that is relevant to all the treatments I do. The first time a client comes I fill this in with them and then for each subsequent visit I ask if there are any changes such as medication and get them to initial what they've told me on the consultation form.

I've also been for a few treatments this year and not once have I been asked to fill in a consultation form.

 

[Sarah22]

I get every client to fill out a record card. I ask them all the necessary questions that aren't on the record card such as pains, pregnancy etc and record it all, and then check for contra-indications. I have amazing consultation cards from Eve Taylor that go into huge detail which I use for facials and massages, but where do I get good consultation cards for everything else? I checked in Sally's but there weren't any :-/ What do you's use? Xx

 

[treasure]

I do them for everything, even a file and polish, on a clients first appointment, then after that each time they come I ask if there has been any changes in their health/ medication etc.

I have a BABTAC one for all treatments, and I also have the Eve Taylor ones for the facial treatments. The Eve Taylor ones are very very long and i do find clients get abit irritated by them as they are so long but once i explain why its important they are fine with it. Its amazing how many salons dont do them xx

 

[Curly Bamboo]

When I worked in a salon, the intention of doing a consultation was there but realistically it did not always happen because of time restriction or the salon did not have any consultation forms.

Now I work for myself, I do consultation and always allow extra time for new clients.

I recently paid £100 for a facial by a celebrity facialist and all I was asked is if I had an allergies? no consultation form at all.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Good Question to ask Lynne and I wonder how many therapists will be totally honest?

I do a client consult for everything. It does not have to be time consuming as many questions for one treatment can be asked during another. However the consultation should be both visual and verbal.

 

[angelina221]

I fill client record cards in for every treatment I do. I have different cards for different treatments. The only cards I don't have for a specific treatment are brow/lash tints so I use a general beauty record card.
Every other treatment I do has a card specifically for that treatment.

 

[Joanna W]

My consultation forms have about 4 or 5 bits at the bottom that allow me to use the same consult form for massage, hopi etc I just ask if anything has changed since the last treatment. The only time I haven't used a consult form is for a chap I do a general foot massage weekly for, don't see the point in that. Is that wrong ?

 

[Lynne Baker]

It might be useful to know if he has any circulation problems, or diabetes, or taking any meds like steroids which will thin his skin, or warfarin that makes him more likely to bruise.
Interestingly I read my BABTAC policy this morning that said you should always fill out a consultation card, and record every visit to provide an audit trail in the event of a claim, and that this is a condition of the insurance cover, i.e. you're not covered if you don't!

 

[treasure]

Lynne does that mean that we need to do a consultation card for each repeat visit? Or just that each repeat visit is recorded with the details? I do that but I dont do a new consultation card for each time, I dont want to be doing it wrong xx

 

[Lynne Baker]

In my view, and seemingly in BABTAC's view too, you should complete a consultation card for each new client and update their record card for every visit and purchase. You should check every time they come for changes (new meds, new allergies etc), and you may need to complete a specific consultation card for certain treatments e.g. microdermabrasion, red veins, electrolysis, tanning, lash extensions.
You should keep these records indefinitely, BABTAC's policy insists upon 7 years.

 

[treasure]

Oh good thats ok then, thats what ive been doing. Thank you for clarifying that for me xx

 

[vitality]

I always do, not only for health and safety law issues, I have a statement at the bottom for the option of emails and promotional calls which can bring in extra business through strategic marketing. :green:

 

[Sarah22]

Can I please ask where everybody gets their consultation cards for specific treatments? Xx