The History Of Barbering

The art of barbering has a much longer history than most people realize. Believe it or not, barber’s tools such as razors have been found in ancient Egypt. These ancient razors are believed to date as far back as 3500 BC! Barbers have been some of the most well-respected and regarded men in different societies throughout time!.

Ancient Barbering

Barbers also used to serve as surgeons who could perform procedures linked not only to medical ailments, but also to cultural and religious ceremonies as well. In addition to haircutting and shaving, barbers performed surgery and bloodletting. Bloodletting was the ancient practice of cutting a patient to allow them to “bleed out” their illnesses and ailments, so it wasn’t for the faint of heart! Amazingly, many barbers branched out into the extraction of teeth and other surgical procedures.Because of this, many of them began to be referred to as “barber surgeons” during the Middle Ages.

Barbers were highly respected in ancient Egypt, and many of them also served as religious priests. Barbers were important because they believed that certain evil spirits could enter a person’s body through their hair, and the only way to drive out the evil spirits was to cut one’s hair. Barbers often performed religious ceremonies, such as baptisms and marriages because of their religious beliefs and status. During the ceremonies, barbers would leave people’s hair hanging down until after the ceremony, and then cut their hair and tie it back to prevent evil spirits from entering while keeping the good spirits inside at the same time.

How Barbering Has Evolved

Barber shops continued their simple yet important prominence in communities all over the world throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. In unique way, barbering has remained a sort of oasis for men to escape the hassle and stress of everyday life. The first barbering school in the world was opened In the 19th century in Chicago, IL. This barbering school achieved great success by providing a valuable skill to students who were able to become successful barbers in turn.

Barbering Today: Celebs Who Love a Great Barber

While many celebrities still love the simple joy of shaving themselves, many certainly opt for professional barbers to keep their whiskers under control for a perfect look on a daily basis. . Many notable entertainers and athletes have sought out the services of barbers to achieve their polished looks. Here are just a few examples:

Dwayne Johnson

Whether he’s sporting a slightly longer style or his more widely-known buzz cut, former wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson always looks sharp. Mr. Johnson takes his look one step further than simply barbing regularly. To accommodate his busy schedule, Johnson has a fully-equipped mini barber shop built in his home complete with mirrored walls, a full range of barbering equipment, an adjustable barber’s chair, and even a flat screen television on the wall. For The Rock, there’s no price too high for a perfect cut!

Usher

There are few people on the planet that are not familiar with Usher. He has great talent and impeccable style. In addition to his affinity for dazzling outfits and styles, Usher always keeps his hair expertly cut and styled. Usher’s hairstyles have been so notable that there have been articles, photographs, and even YouTube videos made specifically for the purpose of discussing his haircut.

June 2012: Usher’s “South of France” Haircut

The “South of France” haircut is kind of a cross between a low Mohawk and a fade, and it exploded in popularity ever since Usher first sported the look just before the release of his multi-platinum album Looking 4 Myself in 2012. Men started walking into barber shops all over the country and requested the “Usher haircut”.

It is now a popular style perfected and performed by skilled barbers throughout the country.

Usher’s Barber: Curtis Smith

Curtis Smith has become an allstar baber by perfecting his skills during his years of travelling the world. He is known for being Usher’s professional barber and the one responsible for the famed “South of France” haircut. Smith has also been the close friend and personal barber for P Diddy for over 13 years. Smith has additionally been the personal barber for a wide array of entertainers, hip-hop artists, athletes, and industry executives.M Many of the posters, billboards, and magazine ads during the past few years that feature a close-up of a man’s haircut have been the work of Curtis Smith.He has truly helped to show the value of a skilled professional barber.

Pharrell Williams

Singer, songwriter, and record producer Pharrell Williams has been a style icon since he emerged onto the music and entertainment scene in 2003. Pharrell’s haircut has been pretty consistent during the past few years; it is usually a very short afro design with the sides and back cut shorter and the top left slightly longer. Pharrell is another example of an entertainer whose sense of personal style has impressed and influenced fans across the world. Picked as their featured fashion icon by Fashion Beans, Pharrell also made news when he received a haircut just before the 2014 Academy Awards. Complete with photos posted on the web, Pharrell sat as a skilled barber used clippers to perfect his famed low fade.

Why Barbering Matters

Barbering has held a prevalent place in societies all around the world for thousands of years, and the same is still true today. Barbering is an outstanding way for men to express themselves through the way they look, and it’s an outstanding profession for creative and business-minded men to create a living for themselves.

How to Become a Barber

Barber training is typically conducted at a cosmetology school-–where a curriculum dedicated entirely to barbering is taught. The barber school curriculum usually consists of the following topics:

• Various types of haircuts and hair cutting basics
• Hair coloring techniques
• Some barber schools teach chemical processes such as dyeing, lightening and relaxing the hair.

Barber schools also generally teach methodologies in safety and sanitation. Students can also learn facial hair techniques, including traditional and modern shaves using straight razors and electric clippers. Advanced barber training may also include custom shave designs. A barbering school may also spend time discussing business and ethics education. This is because once they graduate, many barbers opt to open their own barbershops once they have built a good reputation and a solid clientele. Barbering programs generally take 800 to 2,000 hours to complete depending on the state’s specific licensing requirements. Most barbering programs can be completed in approximately 15 months.

Are you interested in continuing a legacy that stretches back to before the beginning of human history? Barbering could be the right career for you, especially if you love helping other people, have a creative mind, and an entrepreneurial spirit! Visit our barbering program page for more information, or contact us today to learn more.