What do the colors on a barber's pole mean?

To understand what the colors on a barber pole mean, you first need to know a bit about the history of barbering. Before barbers began offering haircuts and shaves, they specialized in bloodletting, which was once believed to treat illness and disease and promote good health. The colors on a barber pole relate to this history. Red signifies arterial blood, while blue represents venous blood. Finally, the white color is a nod to the bandages that barbers applied after providing treatment. On 1stDibs, explore an assortment of barber poles.