A barber is a person whose occupation is mainly to cut, dress, groom, style and shave hair or beards. A barber's place of work is known as a barbershop or the barber's.

The barbershop has been around for centuries and has served as an important social institution. The earliest origins of the barbershop can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where barbers were highly respected members of society. In fact, the Roman Emperor Nero had his own personal barber.

While the profession has evolved over the centuries, its origin dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, where it is believed that the first barber in history performed his services. The first barber in history, as it is believed, lived in ancient Mesopotamia, in what is now Iraq, more than 5,000 years ago.

The word “barber” comes from the Latin word “barba,” meaning “beard.” Ancient civilizations believed that spirits entered people through the hair on their heads and faces. Ideology held that only by cutting a person's hair could these evil spirits be eliminated.