History Of The Barber

Barbershops have long been a great place for men to go and enjoy getting pampered. Oftentimes, salons are geared more for women, so it can be a bit emasculating for men to get a haircut, when really, it should be a relaxing experience.

Overtime, Barber Shops have always held a place in our society, and it dates back to 5,000 B.C.

6,000 years ago, barber cuts were performed by Egyptian Nobility, using sharpened oyster shells and sharpened flint. We’ve certainly come a long way since the old days of using shells to cut hair.

Fast forward to 900 B.C

During the middle ages barbers did more than cut hair and shave. They also dressed wounds and performed surgical operations and were referred to as barber-surgeons. In 1096 B.C. the barber-surgeons formed their first organization in France, and in the 14th century barbers and surgeons separated their professions. Thank goodness they did. In 1450, they made this separation official by stating that no one performing a surgery could practice barbering at that time, and vice-versa. However, barbers were still allowed to pull teeth. Then in 1745, a bill was passed that completely separated the two professions all together.

The famous barber pole that we identify with the profession was used to represent that barbers that were once barber-surgeons. The red on the pole represents blood, the white for bandages, and the blue for veins.
When it comes to the history of barbers, there is so much more to learn, but in the meantime, why not visit your local barbershop for a men’s haircut. You can give them a little history lesson and thank them for cutting your hair and nothing else! Stay tuned to our next blog to learn even more about barbershop history.