Barber

::''For other uses of the word, see the Barber (disambiguation).'' A barber (from the Latin ''barba'', 'beard') is someone whose occupation is to cut hair, give shaves and cut beards. A barber differs from a hairdresser whose business is limited to cutting hair. In previous times, barbers also performed surgery. The place where a barber works is a barbershop (or "barber shop"). == History == For thousands of years men used to go to the barber to be shaved and to socialize. Before the Macedonian conquest brought the custom of clean-shaven, the κουρευς in the Greek ''agora'' would trim and style his patrons' beards, hair, and fingernails, as gossip and debate flowed freely. The Romans imported their first Greek barber from Sicily c. 454 Ab urbe condita (300 BCE), and the custom of shaving lasted until the Hellenophile Hadrian brought full beards back into fashion. A morning visit to the ''tonsor'' became a part of the daily routine as important as the visit to the thermaes, and a young man's first shave (''tonsura'') was an essential part of his coming of age ceremony. A few Roman ''tonsores'' became wealthy and influential, running shops that were favorite ''loci publici'' of high society; most were simple tradesmen, owning small storefronts or setting up their stool in the street and offering shaves for a mere ''quadrans''. Some had reputations as clumsy butchers who left their patrons scarred about the cheeks and chin; their dull bronze or copper (never steel) razors must share some of the blame. The better barbers offered depilatory for those customers who refused the razor. Nowadays, with the invention of the safety razor, men usually shave by themselves and barbers only cut hair. However, in order to get their license, barbers in the United States still need to know how to give shaves. But they do not practice much since there is almost no demand anymore. And since it takes time to prepare the steamer (to prepare the steamed towels necessary for the shave), the price to be shaved is very high now. Moreover, people are more afraid to get a shave at a barbershop due to the fear of getting AIDS through a dirty blade (although disposable blades are used in many parts of the world). == Miscellaneous == In some countries, barbers hang out a pole (object)#Barber's pole as their symbol. == See also == *Facial hair *Haircut ==External links== *[http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_wsd_sec20.htm William Stearns Davis on the barber shops of Athens] *[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Barba.html ''Barba'': entry in William Smith's ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities''] Personal care and service occupations

See other meanings of words starting from letter:

B

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Words begining with Barber:

Barber
Barber's_pole_worm
Barber-Scotia_College
Barber-surgeon
Barbera
Barbera_and_Jenna_Bush
Barberini
Barberini_family
Barberini_Faun
Barberini_Faun
Barberini_Gospels
Barbero-Immirzi_parameter
Barberry
Barbers
Barbers'_Company
Barbershop
Barbershop
Barbershop_(hair)
Barbershop_(motion_picture)
Barbershop_(movie)
Barbershop_(movie)
Barbershop_(musical_style)
Barbershop_(musical_style)
Barbershop_2:_Back_in_Business
Barbershop_harmony_society
Barbershop_music
Barbershop_music
Barbershop_music
Barbershop_paradox
Barbershop_quartet
Barbershop_quartets
Barbershop_quartets
Barbershop_Quartet_Singing
Barbershop_quintet
Barbers_Point_Housing,_Hawaii
Barbers_Point_Housing,_HI
Barbers_Point_Naval_Air_Station
Barberton
Barberton,_OH
Barberton,_Ohio
Barberton,_South_Africa
Barberton,_WA
Barberton,_Washington
Barberton_Daisy
Barbery
Barbery,_Calvados
Barbery,_Calvados,_France
Barber_(disambiguation)
Barber_-_Medea's_Meditation_and_Dance_of_Vengeance_(clip).ogg
Barber_B._Conable
Barber_Benjamin_Conable
Barber_Benjamin_Conable,_Jr.
Barber_Conable
Barber_County
Barber_County,_Kansas
Barber_County,_Kansas
Barber_County,_Kansas
Barber_County,_KS
Barber_from_Baghdad
Barber_Institute_of_Fine_Arts
Barber_of_Sevilla
Barber_of_Seville
Barber_paradox
Barber_paradox
Barber_Pole
Barber_shop
Barber_surgeon
Barber_surgeon_of_Avebury
Barber_Township,_Minnesota
Barber_Township,_MN