The Complete Cosmetic Release Forms (CRF) Flow for New & Returning Clients
Overview
If your studio offers cosmetic tattooing, permanent makeup (PMU), or microblading, a standard tattoo waiver won’t cut it. Cosmetic clients require an intake process tailored specifically to facial skin history, aesthetic routines, and specialized healing disclosures. Local health departments also require precise tracking for microblades, PMU cartridges, and pigment lot numbers.
Cosmetic Release Forms App (CRF)—the premier PMU waiver app on the App Store for eight years—is now seamlessly woven directly into the TRF app. The CRF flow operates identically to our standard TRF New Client Flow, adjusted with specialized PMU terminology and dedicated specialist tools.
Here is the complete step-by-step breakdown of the Cosmetic Release Forms (CRF) workflow—from the moment a new client steps up to the iPad, to backend tray logging, through returning client touch-up sessions. To learn how to set up CRF in Settings, see this article.
The New Client Experience
Invite your client to the iPad for a smooth 5-step flow that guides your client through ID Capture & Verification, Bio & Studio Details, Social Marketing, Health & Beauty History, and Legal Clauses & Signatures. Tapping NEW CLIENT (COSMETIC) launches their experience.
1. ID Capture & ID Verify
ID Capture: The iPad camera activates automatically. The client aligns their ID in the viewfinder, snaps the photo, and taps USE PHOTO. (Note: If dual-sided ID capture is enabled in Settings, the app will prompt for the back of the ID as well).
ID Verify: This screen gives the client a moment to review their photo to ensure it is clear, well-framed, and legible. The client selects their specific ID type (Driver's License, State ID, Passport, or Government ID) before proceeding. If the photo is blurry, tapping Retake Photo resets the camera.
2. Client Bio & Studio Details
Client Bio: The client inputs their legal information: Full Name, Pronouns, Date of Birth, Address, Phone Number, and Emergency Contact details. (This screen automatically adapts to international vs. U.S. address formatting based on your STUDIO tab settings).
Studio Details: The client selects their PMU technician from the SPECIALIST NAME dropdown menu. Next, they tap SERVICE LOCATION to choose their specific procedure area from four organized categories:
• Brows (e.g., Powder Brows, Microblading)
• Lips (e.g., Full Lips, Lip Blushing)
• Eyes
• Other (e.g., Scar Camouflage, Freckles)
3. Social (Marketing Source)
How Did You Find Us? The client selects where they learned about your studio (Instagram, Facebook, Web Search, Referral, etc.). If enabled, the client can also enter their email address and opt in to your marketing messages.
4. Health, History & Beauty Routine
This section protects your studio against skin-reaction liabilities, blood-sugar drops, and aesthetic complications:
Health Screening: Focuses on PMU-relevant medical conditions. Clients toggle Yes or No for conditions like Difficulty Numbing, Tumors/Growths/Cysts, active medications, and time of last meal.
Cosmetic History: Clients disclose recent aesthetic treatments using date-pickers for their last Botox or Chemical Peel treatments (or select Never), and toggle Yes/No for Facelifts, Accutane use, Tanning Beds, Retin-A, and Glycolic Acid.
5. Legal Clauses & Client Signature
The client reviews your studio’s custom cosmetic legal clauses one at a time, typing their initials for each requirement.
They tap SIGN & COMPLETE, sign the digital signature pad using a stylus or finger, and tap DONE.
They'll see "NICELY DONE. PLEASE TELL STUDIO STAFF TO TAKE OVER FROM HERE."
The Specialist Handoff
Now the specialist takes over to enter pertinent details of the cosmetic experience.
1. Unlocking & Health Check
Tap the SPECIALIST: TAP TO BEGIN.
Enter your Specialist Passcode or Master Passcode (default is 1234).
The CLIENT HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS warning instantly pops up, highlighting any flagged medical responses (e.g., Difficulty Numbing: YES).
Pro-Tip: Tap Preview This Waiver to review their complete medical history and beauty routine before setting up your tray. Any "Yes" answers appear highlighted in bold red text on the PDF preview. Tap I UNDERSTAND to proceed.
2. The Specialist Notes Pane
This is your administrative control center for health department compliance and session record-keeping:
Pigments & Thinners: Select the specific Pigment Brand, Color Family, and named pigment color used for the procedure.
Blades & Needles: Select your microblades, PMU cartridges, or needle configurations from your custom pre-loaded inventory.
Sterilization Lot Numbers: Enter lot and expiration numbers effortlessly using one of three methods:
Camera Barcode/QR Scanner: Tap SCAN BARCODE/QR to point the camera at packaging.
OCR Text Reader: Tap READ PRINTED NUMBER to scan printed numbers on pigment bottles or blade sleeves via camera text recognition.
Manual Entry: Type lot numbers directly into the text fields.
3. Session Financials
This section ties your shop's revenue tracking directly to each cosmetic client's waiver for clean bookkeeping and easy auditing:
Amount Due: The base cost of the cosmetic procedure.
Total Tax: Applicable sales tax calculated for the session.
Deposit: Any booking deposit previously collected.
Amount Paid: The final amount collected at the shop today.
Remaining Balance: Recalculates automatically in real time using the formula: Balance = (Amount Due + Total Tax) - (Deposit + Amount Paid).
Payment Method: Dropdown selection including Cash, Credit/Debit Card, P2P Digital Payment, or Other.
4. Supporting Documents
Attach supplementary photos or client documentation directly to the digital waiver:
Add with iPad Camera: Capture pre-procedure baseline photos of the client's eyebrows, lips, or eyeliner, or snap stencils at your station.
Add from iPad Image Libraries: Upload pre-photographed client reference images or designs from your iPad camera roll.
Document Types: Select from Legal Guardian ID (for minor cosmetic procedures), Birth Certificate, Client Design/Pattern, Second Government ID, or Custom Document.
5. Specialist Sign-Off, Save for Later & Cloud Upload
Finalize or queue the waiver before pushing it to your studio's cloud storage:
Save For Later (Draft Parking): On Basic and Pro subscriptions, tap SAVE FOR LATER to park an active form in your queue. This lets busy PMU specialists finish logging pigment batch codes and blade numbers later when the shift slows down.
Finish & Upload: Tap PIERCER / SPECIALIST SIGNATURE, sign the pad, and tap FINISH & UPLOAD.
Cloud Syncing: TRF instantly compiles a single, full-color PDF containing the client's skin history, beauty routine answers, captured ID photos, specialist supply logs, and digital signatures. The final PDF uploads straight to your connected cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box) under: Beluga Digital App [year] Tattoo Release Forms / Waivers.
Returning Cosmetic Client Flow (Touch-Ups & Multi-Session PMU)
Permanent makeup procedures like microblading, powder brows, lip blushing, and eyeliner routinely require touch-up sessions after initial application, as well as annual color refreshes.
For refreshing or retouching cosmetic work previously applied to returning cosmetic clients, TRF fast-tracks check-in into a quick, sub-ten-second experience while logging today's fresh date, new blade lot numbers, and fresh pigment batch codes.
1. Unlocking & Searching Returning Clients
From the Welcome Screen, tap RETURNING CLIENT.
Enter your Specialist Passcode or Master Passcode (default is 1234).
Type the client's name into the search bar and tap SEARCH.
CRF Tagging: Look for the CRF tag next to the client's name (indicating a Cosmetic Release Form) to pull up their PMU record. (TRF tags indicate an artistic tattoo client waiver, not cosmetic)
Pro Search Filters: PRO Subscribers can tap the filter icon next to the search bar to narrow results by Specialist Name, Date Range, Client Birth Year, or Minors (Under 18).
2. Client Review & Health Screening
Tap the client's previous cosmetic waiver from the search list.
Hand the iPad to the client—a "Welcome Back!" modal confirms their saved details and automatically updates today's date.
The client taps GO to review the waiver they previously submitted and confirm their bio, medical disclosures, and cosmetic history are correct.
Red-Flag Medical Highlights: Any health conditions or beauty responses the client previously answered "Yes" to display in bold RED text on the PDF preview for quick review.
3. MORE Button: Updating Details
If the client's details have changed since their last session, tap MORE OPTIONS in the bottom-left corner of the viewer:
Client Data Edit: Unlocks text fields so the client can update their bio or health disclosures before resubmitting.
Specialist Notes Edit: Unlocks the setup pane so the specialist can adjust procedure notes or financial totals.
4. Signing, Specialist Re-Logging & Cloud Syncing
If no changes are needed to the previous waiver, the client taps SIGN & RESUBMIT FORM and taps DONE, then hands the iPad back to the specialist.
The specialist logs today's fresh microblades/cartridges, pigment batch numbers, and sterilization lot numbers, signs, and taps FINISH & UPLOAD.
TRF creates a new waiver with today's date and uploads it to your cloud folder under Beluga Digital App [year] Tattoo Release Forms / Waivers.
Legal Stuff: Touch-Ups vs. New Cosmetic Services
Same Procedure / Touch-Up: Use RETURNING CLIENT for touch-ups, color boosts, or multi-session work on the same procedure area (e.g., microblading touch-up).
New Service: If an existing client returns for a completely new cosmetic procedure (e.g., they previously got Powder Brows and now want Lip Blushing), they must submit a fresh waiver by tapping NEW CLIENT (COSMETIC). This keeps each new cosmetic procedure legally tidy if you ever have to go to court!