Why Is A Barbers Pole Red And Blue

[spathiphyllum]

I remember reading that barbers use to do other things like tonsitle removal and the red stood for blood? Is this true?

Any ideas?

[aelmpvw]

i thought they were red and white?

[anotheoldgit]

I always assumed that a barber's pole was red and white, red for blood and white for the bandage.

[retrocop]

Yes they were also surgeons. Red for blood and white for bandages.
Never thought their poles were also blue striped.

[Stephen_G]

They can be Red, White and Blue

https://www.reference.com/beauty-fashion/barber-poles-red-white-blue-13f20d8a1054bb0b

[dannyk13]

Only ever seen a red & white one.
//During medieval times, barbers performed surgery on customers, as well as tooth extractions. ... Another, more fanciful interpretation of these barber pole colors is that red represents arterial blood, blue is symbolic of venous blood, and white depicts the bandage.//

[anotheoldgit]

/// Blue often appears on poles in the United States, possibly as a homage to its national colors. Another, more fanciful interpretation of these barber pole colors is that red represents arterial blood, blue is symbolic of venous blood, and white depicts the bandage. ///

[douglas9401]

The "Turkish Barbers" that seem to open weekly in our wee town all use red white and blue.

I'm more concerned with why we've become so hairy all of a sudden.
Probably that bloody EU's got something to do with it.

[ChillDoubt]

Hence the tradition that surgeons are referred to as Mr as opposed to Dr.

[Baldric]

https://www.rd.com/culture/barber-pole-history/

What is "Tonsitle" removal?

[TonyV]

Ok UK ones red and white. USA ones red white and blue for flag I guess

[EDDIE51]

Barbers poles are Red and White as far as I have ever seen. The red is for blood. I do remember that Barbers used to be called 'Barber Surgons' but it must have been MANY years ago that they performed operations! Well before the formation of the NHS! I do seem to remember that Barbers used to do things like tonsil removal , but as said it was decades ago.

[Mamyalynne]

Don't ask Baldric - you never walk straight after it though.

[aelmpvw]

it's always struck me as peculiar that anyone would let a total stranger near their throat with a cut throat razor ...

[douglas9401]

Bit early to be hitting the hard stuff is it not?

[tamborine]

Blood & towels. Today we only allowed to cut hair but barbers did some surgery, castration, abortion, circumcision & dental.

Privately we do as we like - gotta a problem ;)

[Old_Geezer]

I guess blue bloods can get cut as well as the hoi polloi.

[TonyV]

Well ael guess they want repeat customers, so not likely to let razor slip

[dannyk13]

Tamborine, Don't you do shaves any more?

[pastafreak]

Here's s history of barber surgeons, along with an explanation of barber poles...

https://www.mdrnyu.org/fall-2015-bloody-history-of-barber-surgeons/

[tamborine]

We trim beard, tash & ears but not shave. Male barbers will shave but none in my salon.

Weve expanded into Nails & botox