So I have been hearing this question often lately, “what is the meaning of the Barber Pole?”

Let me try and explain to the best of my knowledge. Originally barbers use to do hair and surgery. It was in the time of bloodletting (draining lots of blood to cure or prevent sickness). Cant even imagine going to the barber to have this done or even having this done now days. I guess it is more like a blood transfusion.

The top of the pole is where they would keep leeches and at the bottom is where the blood would go. Great stuff huh. Going to the barber and just seeing that. I don’t think I would have this blog if that were the case today, ha. I have heard it said that it is on a pole because it symbolizes the pole one would hold when getting surgery.
WHO CARES ABOUT THAT WHAT ABOUT THE COLORS?

So what would happen is they would have a clean bandage (white) and a used bandage (red) wrapped around the patients arm, which is the twist. As you would look for the barber you would look for this sign.

Some say they would put the bandages outside and with wind blowing the white and red bandages would twist and this is where it would come from…. Then someone decided to paint it on a pole. Soon the barber started to place these outside to let people know there was a barber who could perform all types of surgery.


Now before someone types barber pole in Google Image search and comments “Mike barber poles are actually red, white, and blue…. not red and white like in your post! ZING!”
I Know let me tell you how the blue came into the picture, so just relax.

The color blue is introduced because doctors and barber started to use the same marketing technique placing these poles outside. The doctors were like we are more educated and better than you barber… and the United Barber Surgeon Company required barbers to use blue and surgeons to use red. Some reports say that the blue appeared in the USA as the countries colors, but you must make your own mind up. I say cause the color blue is awesome so it was placed there because it was the best color around at the time. Maybe there was a sale on blue at the corner market and someone placed it on the pole and like Facebook it took off before anyone ever knew what it truly was.

BAM there you have it, if you don’t believe it then research for yourself or ask your local barber….

The Dollar Shop

So it was time again for a hair cut. YES! I enjoy when this time comes. Since I have started this blog I had to be more thoughtful and aware of my process.

What I did. Whipped out the Iphone googled barber shop UT. Went to local results around my location. Since I was leaving work I was near downtown SLC. I saw a link that looked promising. Jim's Barber Shop (219 East 800 South).

How does a name look appealing to a Barber Shop specialist one might ask? Well you see some of my favorite shops have the owners name in it, or very simple like their hours example 9 to 9 barber shop (FYI).

But when I got to Jim's I saw this very sad sign


Time for plan B back to Iphone and start all over. Thats when I saw The Dollar Shop It was close to where I was so I thought I would give it a shot. Painted on the side of the building reads $5 Most Mens Hair Cuts. Did some research online and this place has been around for 50 yrs. Very impressive, great location. This place has lots of Barbers. Some seem more "friendly" than others.

The only thing about a $5 hair cut is the price. You cant really complain about it, like "Hey this thing looks like $5 buck haircut." But doesnt mean the barber should treat it as a $5 hair cut. Because overtime for the barber that adds up specially with referrals.

So I walk in and they are just closing! But they got me in anyway. RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT COME AT CLOSING which is 5:30!!!


Sat down with my barber. Didnt even get her name she was not friendly. I hope it was the fact she had to stay later. I tried to start a conversation it went no where. Thats part of going to the barber! I asked to have my hair low fade and finger length on top. She just started buzzing away....too late. I now have a high and tight! No worries. The barber did not do a horrible job but not what I was expecting. I had her change somethings about it but like I said no worries. I will try this place again thats for sure. They have lots of barbers.

The overall feel of this place is good. When you walk in you see barbers on two sides. Down the middle is the chairs for waiting. I think the owner Howard was his name sits in a chair next to the door. He is frank and to the point, but friendly. He was paying the employees out for the day and exchanging tips etc when I was there. A person walked in a few minutes after me and he told them "Cant you read, we are closed." Guy turned around and left.

A few minutes later another guy walks in and says "Are you closed". Howard says yes. The guy says "I have a very important meeting tomorrow. Cant I ask one of the stylist if they will cut it?" Howard just said sure you can try... Ha thats why I said make sure your not there at 5:30.

I think from now on I want to try and get my cut done early like first customer of the day. Everyone knows people start their leaving mindset 1/2 hour before its closing time.

This place feels like a true old school barber shop. They didnt perform a straight razor around the neck and side burns, but then again its $5.

If your looking for a quick cut or trim give this place a shot.

First Post

Welcome. There is no hidden objective here @SLCbarber. No I am not a barber but a connoisseur of them. I enjoy the conversation (most of the time), the atmosphere, smell, and the overall experience from going to a Barber Shop in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. Some people think the barber shop is dead nay I say to those. With places here in SLC like The Barber School, in Midvale next to Shane Co (everyone in UT knows where that is) the corner of State Street and 7200 South, ha thanks Tom Shane for that one.

How this all got started:

I started to go to 9 to 9 barber shop in middle school and HATED my hair cut! But I liked the environment. I think it was more the concept and idea of the barber shop. Guys just relaxing and getting their hair cut, shooting the breeze, getting a back massage, and a straight razor on the neck and side burns after the cut, finishing up with funny smelling aftershave. When I was younger I truly thought the barber would take to much hair off my head making it shorter than I cared for. But I really enjoyed the back massage and straight razor.

Then I started to become more professional! Yikes, I was getting my hair cut more regular and enjoying the actual cut looking for the most experienced barbers in SLC. Seeking different places, different prices, and experience.


My wife and I always joked that I would go to a new barber every hair cut, which is mostly true.
A friend of mine who is a foodie in SLC has a wonderful blog about SLC food hence the name of her twitter account SLCfoodie. We were all joking that since I like going to new barber shops all the time I should start a twitter feed SLCbarber. As time as it the blog is now rocking and rolling. I do have 2 cuts that I need to post about.

I also wanted to post more about different places here in Salt Lake, I don't want the Barber Shop to die so its up to us to continue the practice of going to the barber shop.

Please give any feed back you wish. No worries if it hurts my feelings I will just cry. But please this whole world of blogging and twitter posting is VERY new and foreign to me.