The Hidden Story Behind The Barber’s Pole That Will Give You Chills

The barber's pole hides a grisly history, and we're going to reveal everything to you.

Jesse

• Published in News
• December 25, 2024

Ever walked past a traditional barbershop and noticed the red, white, and sometimes blue-striped pole spinning outside? Perhaps you’ve admired it as a quirky bit of nostalgia or a charming splash of color in your neighborhood.

But have you ever stopped to wonder why it’s there—or, more importantly, what it represents? If your answer is “no,” don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Most of us associate barbershops with a fresh fade, a clean shave, and maybe even a bit of small talk. They’re places of routine, comfort, and familiarity. But the truth about the barber’s pole is a little less comforting and a lot more morbid.

That seemingly harmless spinning icon outside your local barber’s door isn’t just there for aesthetic appeal. It’s steeped in history—a history that might make you see your barber in a completely different light.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “How morbid could a barber pole possibly be? It’s just stripes!” But trust me, by the time we’re through, you’ll have a newfound respect for the humble barbershop staple.

Buckle up because this story takes us back hundreds of years to a time when barbers weren’t just cutting hair—they were saving (and sometimes losing) lives.

Today’s barbers have earned their reputation as the ultimate grooming experts

To truly understand the origins of the barber’s pole, we need to rewind to a time when barbers weren’t just hairdressers but also the go-to "surgeons" for medical treatments. Think of it as an early version of multitasking, though definitely not the kind you’d want today.

Back then, barbers performed a range of medical services, from pulling teeth to setting bones. But their most infamous role? Bloodletting.

If you’ve never heard of bloodletting, it was a medical practice that involved removing blood from a patient to cleanse their body of "impure" fluids believed to cause various ailments. Initially, this was done by making incisions in veins or arteries, often at the elbow or knee, to release the "tainted" blood.

As the practice evolved, barbers and surgeons developed specialized tools and techniques, even employing leeches for greater precision and control over the amount of blood removed.

At some point in history, Monks were the main experts in this field, but in 1163, Pope Alexander III forbade clergymen from carrying out medical procedures. This left barbers—already handy with sharp tools—to step into the role of barber-surgeons.

In Europe, barber poles twirl in simple red and white. Across the pond in the U.S., however, they added a patriotic twist—red, white, and blue

Here’s where it gets morbidly interesting. The iconic barber’s pole we see today is a direct nod to those grisly bloodletting days.

The red stripes symbolize the blood that was drawn, while the white stripes represent the bandages used to stop the bleeding. Some poles in the U.S. also include blue, thought to represent veins or, more patriotically, the American flag.

Barber-surgeons would hang bloodied bandages outside to dry, and as they blew in the wind, they’d twist around the pole, creating the spiral design we recognize today. Over time, this sight became symbolic, and the spinning pole became a universal sign of barbering.

Reddit users recently unearthed this piece of history, and reactions ranged from fascination to disbelief. One user summarized it perfectly: "Today I learned 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."

So, next time you see that striped pole, take a moment to appreciate the strange, morbid, and surprisingly fascinating history behind it. Who knew a trip to the barbershop came with so much baggage?

Jesse