Innovation No. 46 of 77 in the book
The Barber Shop
Barbers practiced as a recognized, trained profession
- When
- c. 1400 BCE
- Dynasty
- 18th Dynasty
- Era
- New Kingdom
Barbering was a respected, trained profession in Egypt by around 1400 BCE, in the New Kingdom — some barbers grew wealthy enough to leave fine tombs.
They worked outdoors under shade trees, a public spot where clients waited their turn — the open-air ancestor of the neighborhood barber shop.
In a culture that prized a clean-shaven look and close-cropped or shaved heads, the barber was in constant demand.
The barber shop — chair, queue and gossip included — opened first in Egypt.
Tomb paintings such as those of the royal scribe Userhet at Thebes, around 1400 BCE, show professional barbers shaving customers outdoors in the shade. The Middle Kingdom Satire of the Trades, around 1900 BCE, describes the barber shaving until late evening and moving "from street to street to seek out those to shave" — a mobile commercial service. Specialised copper razors with curved, leaf-shaped blades survive from around 3000 BCE, with bronze replacing copper from the Middle Kingdom on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was in a barber's kit?
Heavy metal razors, sharpening stones and copper tweezers for stray hairs, carried in a custom leather bag. Since shaving soap did not exist, the barber softened the hair with warm water and oil before drawing the blade.
How skilled was the work?
Skilled enough to be a recognised trade worth satirising in literature. A heavy blade dragged over skin lubricated only with oil leaves no margin for a slip, and some barbers grew wealthy enough to afford fine tombs.