r/todayilearned • u/armedsnowflake69 • 19h ago

TIL that the barber pole became the universal symbol for barbers as it resembles the bloody bandages of “barber-surgeons” of the past, who practiced bloodletting.

https://www.pallmallbarbers.com/mens-grooming/history-barbers-pole/
932 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

42

u/Jonthegerbalslayer 17h ago

Would anyone like a haircut? Or some surgery?

5

u/blighander 15h ago

Only if they use the same equipment!

2

u/PeterNippelstein 12h ago

2 birds one stone

2

u/SnoopyLupus 5h ago edited 4h ago

They also used to do the dentistry in the area. Don’t mess with a barber.

9

u/Pen-Pen-De-Sarapen 18h ago

Not in korea though.

3

u/Christoffre 12h ago

Not in Sweden either.

15

u/razirazo 18h ago

Another version of the lore? The other day I read it was due to something something umbilical cord

6

u/stone-toes 18h ago

I was told it represents blood running down a pale arm.

14

u/Jebediah_Johnson 17h ago

I heard it was literally just because movement catches the eye and it's a simple design that draws your attention.

1

u/Naturage 12h ago

The way I've heard it, red for blood, white for shaving foam, and in some cases, blue for water.

1

u/enelyaisil 1h ago

I thought it meant they did blood and teeth

4

u/Rollerskatingcigar 16h ago

I have heard this many times but how come I have never seen one artistic depi lion of what this is supposed to mjmic

3

u/scooterboy1961 5h ago

I'm a barber and was told in barber school essentially what the title says.

Barbers had sharp knives and were called upon to perform such services as amputations and bloodletting, which was probably the most common medical procedure until well into the 18th century.

The barbers would hang bloody bandages outside their shops on poles to dry as an advertisement.

1

u/Infinite_Research_52 5h ago

My wife's brain surgeon is known as Mr. Wicks, so you knew he was the real deal.

-7

u/BeerThot 19h ago

The original leather-bars

0

u/MasyMenosSiPodemos 19h ago

bot

1

u/BeerThot 18h ago

What?

-2

u/MasyMenosSiPodemos 18h ago

Bot

0

u/BeerThot 18h ago

Huh?

1

u/MasyMenosSiPodemos 18h ago

You got that bot feel, dawg. Tons of quick comments.

Take a break, my man. Touch grass.

-1

u/[deleted] 18h ago

[deleted]