You’ve probably seen the classic red, white and blue barber pole spinning outside a barbershop. It’s such a familiar symbol that most of us don’t give it much thought. But its history is a lot stranger than you might expect.
From Barber to Barber-Surgeon
Hundreds of years ago, a trip to the barber wasn’t necessarily just for a haircut or shave. During the Middle Ages, barber-surgeons also performed medical procedures like pulling teeth, treating wounds and bloodletting.
Hans Holbein the Younger’s famous painting Henry VIII and the Barber Surgeons (1540).
Bloodletting was once a common treatment for all kinds of illnesses. During the procedure, patients would sometimes grip a pole or staff to help make their veins easier to see. Eventually, the pole became associated with the barber-surgeon trade.
Thankfully, your barber today is much more likely to offer a hot towel than a medical procedure.
What Do the Colours Mean?
The familiar stripes are generally connected to this unusual history.
Red is associated with blood, while white is commonly linked to the bandages used during bloodletting.
The meaning behind blue isn’t quite as clear. One popular explanation is that it represents veins. Another is that red, white and blue became especially popular in the United States because they matched the colours of the American flag.
That’s also why you may still come across traditional barber poles featuring only red and white stripes.
Pictured: Common Barber Pole shown outside a barbershop.
The pole itself symbolizes the staff or walking stick that a patient squeezed to make their arm veins stand out during bloodletting.
From Surgery to Shaving
As medicine advanced, barbering and surgery eventually became separate professions. Barbers focused on what we associate with the trade today—haircuts, beard trims and, of course, a good traditional shave.
The barber pole remained.
Photo c/o Omega
Today, the spinning barber pole is a reminder of the surprisingly colourful history behind the neighbourhood barbershop—and how a centuries-old medical symbol became an enduring icon of men’s grooming.
Shop the Omega Barber Pole Handle shaving brush and more at Fendrihan.
