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History of Barbering The history of barbering is deeply rooted in the progress of mankind. As civilization advanced, barbering developed from an insignificant practice to a recognized vocation. To study the history of barbering is to appreciate the accomplishments and the role of the barber in early times. This rich cultural heritage should be the basis for prestige and respect in serving the public. Primitive man had to devise rather crude instruments with which to cut the hair. Simple cutting implements were usually prepared from sharpened flint or oyster shells. To this very day, the savages of Polynesia still use similar objects in cutting the hair. Superstitions The beginning of barbering was steeped in strange superstitions. There was a general belief among savages that people could be bewitched by hair clippings. Hence, the privilege of hair cutting was designated to the priest or medicine man of the tribe. The Irish peasantry believed that if hair cuttings were burned or buried no evil spirits would haunt the individual. Among the American Indians, the belief existed that the hair had a vital connection with the body, and that "anyone possessed of a lock of hair of another might work his will on that individual." It was the widespread ancient belief in the magic influence of long-haired persons which caused Roman judges to order the hair of Christian martyrs cut before putting them to death. Origin of the Barber As far back as four hundred years before Christ, shaving was introduced by the Macedonians. Later it spread to Egypt and all Eastern countries, including China. The word barber is derived from a Latin word "barba" meaning beard. The word tonsorial in Latin means the cutting, clipping and trimming of hair with shears or cutting with a razor. Beautifying the Body The Egyptians were the first to cultivate beauty in an extravagant fashion. Excavations from tombs have brought to light such relics as combs, brushes, mirrors and cosmetics. Eye paint was the most popular of all cosmetics. Slaves enhanced the beauty of the Egyptian ladies by applying perfumed oil to their skins and henna to their hair.
In ancient Rome, the color of a woman's hair indicated her rank. Women of the nobility tinted their hair red; those of the middle class colored their hair yellow; while women of the poorer classes were compelled to dye their hair black. The Greeks were noted for the cultivation of health by natural methods. They realized the value of exercise and massage for building a strong body. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, advocated the use of sunlight, water and diet, as important aids to recovery from illness. The motto of the Greeks was "a sound mind in a sound body". Some of the finest bathing establishments were erected in Rome. Soap was first discovered and came into common usage there. Later, with the decay of Rome and the rise of Christianity, the use of soap and bathing was banned because these practices were associated with the cruelty and wickedness of Roman rulers.
English Influence The ancient Britons were extremely proud of the length and beauty of their hair. Their yellow hair was brightened with washes composed of tallow, lime, and the ashes of certain vegetables. The Danes and Anglo-Saxons also admired long, flowing locks. The young Danes were particularly attentive to dressing the hair, which they combed at least once a day in order to captivate the affections of English ladies. The Rise and Fall of Barber-Surgeons During the Middle Ages, the barbers not only practiced shaving, haircutting and hairdressing, but also dressed wounds and performed surgical operations. That is why they were called barber-surgeons. Much of the barber’s experience was acquired from the monks, whom they assisted in the practice of surgery and medicine. The barber-surgeons became quite numerous when Pope Alexander III forbade the clergy to shed blood in surgical operations. To protect themselves, the Barbers' Company of London was organized in the thirteenth century. The object of the trade guild was to regulate the profession for the benefit of its members. Among the regulations passed was that no barber was to keep more than four apprentices inhis establishment. The Company of Barbers was ruled by a Master, and consisted of two classes of barbers, viz: those who practiced barbering and those who specialized in surgery. Under Edward III, the barbers made a complaint against unskilled practitioners in surgery. As a result, the court chose two Masters to inspect and rule the guild and give examinations to test the skill of applicants. The sign of the barber-surgeon consisted of a striped pole from which was suspended a basin: the fillet around the pole indicating the bandage twisted around the arms previous to blood-letting and the basin the vessel for receiving blood. Another interpretation of the colors in the barber's pole was that red represented the blood, blue the veins, and white the bandage. This sign, without the basin, has been generally retained by the modern barber. Besides the Barbers' Guild, there was also a Surgeons' Guild in England. There was reason to believe that competition and antagonism existed between these two organizations. In 1450, both groups were united by law for the purpose of fostering the
Disclaimer The article being used in this module is not mine and is credited to the rightful owner *Practice and Science of Standard Barbering, S.C. Thorpe, 2006 via http://www.archive.org/details/practiceandscien00thorrich. This module is not for sale nor for any other purposes other than as education resource. Any unauthorized reproduction for whatever reasons is punishable by law. -Sir Jay
