Are you one of those people who cannot do without a monthly visit to the hairdresser to take care of your appearance? Magazines, gel, razors and mirrors are essential elements in these establishments, creating the perfect environment to transform your style. But have you ever thought about the meaning of the colors that light up the place?
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Red, white and blue: the colors of the barber poles
Whether experienced hairdressers who have known their clients since childhood or talented young people who are just starting their careers, all hair salons have one thing in common: the colors red, white and blue.
Whether you are in a modern barbershop, where reggaeton and hip hop are played all day, or in a classic barbershop, where the music of Agustín Lara, Roberto Carlos and Pedro Infante is preferred, these colors are present. Red, green and blue colors can be found on walls, chairs and even barber poles.
But where does this tradition come from?
According to information from BARBERAPP Your Barbershop’s APP and Pivot Point, specialists in beauty, fashion and haircuts, the use of barber bars dates back to the Middle Ages. At that time, hairdressers not only took care of the hair, but also performed minor operations, such as pulling teeth. These poles were used to dry bloody cloths after operations.
Barbers traveled from town to town offering their services. Customers recognized them by the rails from which they hung bloodstained towels. According to beauty experts, the barbershop pole is the stick that customers had to hold to draw blood from their veins before an operation.
Colors and their symbology
Red symbolizes the blood shed by patients, white represents the bandages used to staunch the bleeding, and blue symbolizes the severed veins. The color blue is believed to have been introduced to hair salons in the US, UK and France as a patriotic gesture in reference to the colors of their respective flags.
Now that you know the meaning of these colors, enjoy your next visit to the hairdresser and admire the poles that tell the story of this ancient profession. Embrace tradition and know that taking care of your appearance has deep historical roots.