~Barber History

Barber was derived from the Latin word Barba (meaning Beard)

Barbers are referred to as Tonsorial Artists.

Evidence was been found that the profession of barbering dates back to the late 2000-1400 BC where artifacts from various painted pottery and sculptures. The Egyptian culture is credited for being the first to cultivate beauty into their everyday fashion.

Many biblical passages referred to the barber profession. By the Middle Ages, barbers were not only providing the tonsorial services they also were apart of the medicine field. Dentisitry was performed only by barbers for thousands of years known also Barber-surgeons. The first barber-surgeons' corporation was formed in France 1096. Ambroise Pare (1510-1590) is considered the greatest surgeon of the Renaissance period and the father of modern surgery.

~Barber Pole History

The Barber pole evolved from the technical procedures of bloodletting performed by the barber-surgeons. The pole is representation of the staff that the patient would hold tightly in order for the veins in the arm to stand out during bloodletting. The bottom end cap of modern barber poles are representation of the basin that was used as vessel to either catch the blood or to lather the face for shaving. The colors wrapping the pole each represents their own meaning. The white stripe is the bandage, The red is the blood, and blue is the vein. Most modern barbers have retained the barber pole as the foremost symbol of the business and profession of barbering.