Though it’s hard to put an exact date on the first Black barbershops, it’s said that it was during the atrocities of slavery in the 19th century when Black barbers were first introduced to America. Because slaves were unjustly and inhumanely considered to be “property,” they were subject to the whim of their owners—one of those whims was being leased out to local establishments and neighbors that specialized in the grooming and barbering care of white men. Even when Black-owned shops did eventually arise as slavery fell, these shops were still mostly catering to a white customer base. As such, it was difficult for a Black man to approach a Black barber to reap the benefits of their skills. At the time, this was considered an economic necessity—catering mostly to white people. This, however, began to change as time went on.

Post-emancipation, Black barbers were now free to serve whoever they wanted—Black customers included. As a result, the floodgates for this profession opened wider than ever before. Seeing an opportunity for advancement, employment, and empowerment, Henry M. Morgan opened the first national chain of barber colleges in 1934—The Tyler Barber College. During this time—and certainly before—barbershops began becoming safe havens that were about more than just getting a haircut or a beard trim. These spaces were for the community, places where Black men and women could discuss social and societal reform, share ideas, and overall, find comradery and community in a time where it was needed most.

Barbershops remained the spots where societal change was catalyzed. Black barbershops were safe haven zones where Black liberation activists could gather and push forward change. Barbershops remain to be a safe haven—not unlike they were during times of slavery, war, economic issues, social shifts, and beyond. Today, Black barbershops thrive across the globe, and their impact on barbering, as a whole, continues to exude from the talented individuals who chose to become a part of this industry—then and now.