As a means of protecting a salon from liability, we feel that any exculpatory language [clearing you from fault] contained in a consent form would not offer much, if any, protection. We have seen the use of exculpatory language in a consent form used successfully in a beauty school, where customers are provided free services in return for their agreement to hold the school harmless. However in a normal nail salon where the salon receives payment for services provided, there is an expected duty of care, and liability resulting from services rendered can’t be eliminated or transferred via a consent form.
— Sean Brownyard is assistant vice president at Brownyard Group (www.brownyard.com), a national program administrator that operates the Salon & Specialty Insurance (SASSI) program.