At The Heart of It All...

For thousands of years, the barbershop has been a place where men gather not just to look sharp, but to connect, trade stories, and take part in a ritual older than most civilizations. The craft of barbering reaches back over 5,000 years to ancient Egypt, where barbers served pharaohs and priests, performing grooming as part of sacred purification rites. In ancient Greece and Rome, the barbershop—known as the tonstrina—became a cornerstone of daily life. Men met there to debate philosophy, share news, and shape their public image, all while receiving shaves, trims, and even minor medical care from skilled tonsors.

By the Middle Ages, barbers had evolved into “barber‑surgeons,” performing everything from haircuts to wound care and tooth extractions. Their iconic red‑and‑white pole still symbolizes that era: red for bloodletting, white for bandages, and the pole itself representing the staff clients gripped during procedures.

As the centuries passed, barbering shifted from medical necessity to a cultural institution. In early America, barbers remained essential community figures, offering grooming, conversation, and a place for men to gather and unwind. The barbershop became a social anchor — a place where stories were told, reputations were built, and generations of men learned the value of looking after themselves.