Barbering is one of the oldest professions in history, and there is more to its story than cutting hair alone. I became interested in this topic after reading an article published by the History Channel titled "Why are barber poles red, white and blue?". The article shares that "barber pole’s colors are a legacy of a long-gone era when people went to barbers not just for a haircut or shave but also for bloodletting and other medical procedures". On the pole, the red represented blood, the white bandages, and the blue veins. ​

As you can imagine, this raised many questions about who was qualified to provide medical procedures. Should only university trained professionals facilitate them? Was apprenticeship training enough? Should one person be allowed to cut hair, conduct dental work and perform surgery? The debate unfolded in different ways across Europe. 
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Southern France, Spain and Italy
In these regions, barber-surgeons saw their status constantly fluctuate from revered “knowledge healer” to “medical conman”. Their relevance to healthcare didn't receive much recognition because medicine and surgery were never treated as separate professions. In 1254, Bruno da Longobucco, an Italian physician who wrote on surgery, complained about barbers performing phlebotomies and scarifications (1). It was the first public sign of physicians' dissent towards other professions encroaching on the market for medical services.

Northern France
Demand for surgical services in this region became so high that it required an abundance of surgeons to meet it (1). Barber-surgeons were able to respond to the demand faster than university graduates because they had no formal certification process in place before entering the field. Many physicians felt the skill and training required to practice medicine was threatened by the number of barber-surgeons performing surgeries, so some medical facilities started banning operations to distinguish doctors from surgeons (1). Despite this, France legitimized the barber-surgeon field by establishing the College de St Cosme (Côme) in 1210, which taught both physicians and surgeons in Paris. However, on campus there was still an issue of class between the faculty teaching each subject. Professors who wore long-robes were physicians entitled to conduct surgeries, while those who wore short robes still needed to pass certain exams and apprenticeship hours to do so. In quiet rebellion, the short robed faculty members partnered with barber-surgeons outside of the college, and began teaching them anatomy lessons in exchange for their sworn allegiance to the short robed division of the school. In 1499, barber-surgeons sought more autonomy, mainly in the form of demonstrations via their own cadavers (1). A power struggle ensued, with the short robed division of the college withdrawing their support. The short robed faculty eventually acquiesced to the long robed faculty in 1660, essentially acknowledging physicians' superiority over the surgical profession at the time. Outside of universities, the number of barber-surgeons continued to rise, but the quality of their services deteriorated without access to proper schooling (1). 

England
Similar to France, physicians in England initially disliked surgeries. A surgeons guild was created in 1368 that joined forces with physicians in 1421 (1). Despite this, the Guild of the Barbers of London received a charter from Edward the IV himself in 1462. This likely elevated the barber-surgeon's class and seniority enough to influence a future partnership between the Guild of Surgeons and the Company of Barbers in 1540, which together became the United Barber-Surgeon Company (1). This organization lasted for over two centuries, until 1745, when England also saw barbers and surgeons part ways as the need for university education in medicine gained social approval. At this time surgeons formed the Royal College of Surgeons, which is still operating today (8). 

Check out the timeline below to see how the barber-surgeon profession evolved into the 18th century. ​

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Hair

To be clear, hyaluronic acid is not a moisturizer (it's a humectant), but it helps by pulling moisture in from the environment. Here's how this works to benefit the hair and scalp.

• Hydrates the hair: The humectant-binding properties of hyaluronic acid perform similarly on hair fibers as it does on the skin, allowing the hair fibers to retain and seal moisture from products, according to Hill.
• Reduces frizziness: Hill adds that hyaluronic acid also helps to seal the cuticle, which prevents unwanted moisture from entering it, leading to frizzy hair and shrinkage in highly curly and coil-y hair textures.
• Plumps the hair: Farhang says that although more studies are needed, theoretically hyaluronic acid could help plump up dry, damaged hair. This plumping effect could be used for added volume at the roots, but additional ingredients would be needed to actually repair the damage, according to Farhang.
• Hydrates the scalp: Not only does hyaluronic acid benefit the hair strands, but both Hill and King highlight its benefits for the scalp as well. "Humectant molecules attract and bind moisture to the skin, allowing collagen to thrive in the skin and scalp," Hill explains. King adds that it can keep the scalp hydrated to avoid the issue of dry scalp.

Hair Type Considerations

According to Hill, all hair types and textures could benefit from using any hyaluronic acid–based products on their hair fibers. Hill explains that the ingredient's ability to bind to moisture helps all hair types and textures retain the proper balance of lipids, humectants, and proteins required for hair strength and elasticity.

More specifically, Farhang says hyaluronic acid would most benefit those with dry, brittle, and perhaps damaged hair as well as frizzy hair. King adds that even color-treated and chemically processed strands can benefit from hyaluronic acid and stresses that the more damaged the hair, the better. King explains that the hair shaft tends to be porous and hyaluronic acid can help to fill the cracks and moisturize. Farhang adds that the ingredient is particularly great for not weighing down curls and not leaving a greasy feel on the hair.

How to Use Hyaluronic Acid for Hair

• Apply it to your scalp as a pre-shampoo treatment: Before shampooing, Hill suggests applying hyaluronic acid liberally all over your scalp and massaging it in with your fingers in circular motions, focusing on areas that are more problematic than others.
• Use it on wet or damp hair: Farhang recommends applying hyaluronic acid post-shower while your strands are still wet. Not only is this when the hair is most receptive to products, but water is also key when using hyaluronic acid. Because hyaluronic acid absorbs water, King says using the ingredient on damp hair can accelerate the effect. "Hyaluronic acid thrives when there is moisture, so make sure whenever you use hyaluronic acid, you mist plenty of water or tonic so hyaluronic acid can bind it and form a coating to keep the moisture in for maximum effect," King explains.
• Choose products formulated with hyaluronic acid: Instead of experimenting with your own hair concoction made with your hyaluronic acid skincare products, Hill suggests using a formula specifically designed for the hair. "I advise only using skin-based hyaluronic acid products to the scalp under the supervision of a certified trichologist, hair replacement practitioner, or medical professional," Hill says. "Before applying product to the scalp, it is imperative to have a keen understanding of the root causes leading you to use hyaluronic acid to treat conditions." Not only that, but King points out that hyaluronic acid skincare products can be costly, and you wouldn't necessarily want to waste it on your hair, which is technically dead.
• Use it as a leave-in conditioner: Farhang adds that hyaluronic acid hair serums could be helpful as styling treatments on damp hair or as a part of a hair mask. Hill recommends applying the hyaluronic acid to damp hair as the first layer to your styling product. Apply it from root to ends, comb through for even distribution, then layer your preferred styling product on top.
• Combine it with oils: Although hyaluronic acid could be beneficial in plumping the hair, Farhang suggests using the ingredient in conjunction with other ingredients to actually help repair the damaged hair. Farhang's top picks: jojoba and argan oils for dry hair and collagen and proteins, like keratin, for strengthening the hair.

Here are a couple more articles for you to check out:

• Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Sodium Hyaluronate
• 5 Reasons You Should Be Using Hyaluronic Acid

In case you haven’t heard (or seen on any of your feeds), the 70s are back, baby. We’ve seen wide-legged pants in every shade of corduroy, a full-fledged roller-skate renaissance, and enough frosty eye shadow to ice a cake—but nothing quite says 70s like some lush, fluffy, Farrah Fawcett-style curls. The trend is, of course, inspired by the blonde bombshell’s signature swoopy hairstyle, seen in decade-defining media like Charlie’s Angels (not to mention her iconic red swimsuit poster, which is the best-selling poster of all time).

Already taking over TikTok, the style is youthful, perfectly bouncy, and easy enough for anyone to achieve. And to make sure of that, we tapped Mischa G, top hairstylist and owner of Treehouse Social Club (and purveyor of all retro haircuts), to share her step-by-step advice for nailing the look, including her dos, don’ts, and product suggestions.

The Trend

The style’s signature lies in the curl pattern, volume, and flirtatious pieces that frame the face. Farrah Fawcett's feathered cut became a hallmark of the '70s, forever memorializing the decade, which then spun off into subsequent '80s and '90s versions. Fawcett personally credits legendary French stylist José Eber with first feathering her hair (though several other stylists have since claimed they were the ones to debut the cut).
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The feathered hair craze has been compared to Jennifer Aniston's viral "Rachel" cut—a seemingly casual but also striking hairstyle made popular by actresses with girl-next-door appeal. Really, much of the Farrah cut's charm is its movement. As Mischa points out, this style is intended to flow, whether on a disco dance floor, skating down the pier, or just walking the city streets. It's casual and vaguely athletic but undeniably pretty. After more than a year of frantic pre-Zoom dry shampoos and homebody ponytails, the freedom of literally letting our hair down is just what we need.

And, of course, "The Farrah" fits in perfectly with a much wider '70s revival. We chronicled the resurgence of shags and afros, earth-toned manicures, and glittery makeup. Plus, pea green and orange velvet furniture are finding their way into modern apartments. And, who could forget "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac going viral and reappearing on the Hot 100 last year for the first time this century?

The Trendsetters

In a welcome role reversal, it looks like celebrities are now taking many of their style cues from Internet trends instead of the other way around. As "The Farrah" takes off, we’ve seen the style on everyone from Ciara and Saweetie to Hailee Steinfeld and Lizzo. The hashtag #farrahfawcetthair has nearly 15,000 uploads to Instagram, countless Twitter mentions, and a staggering number of TikTok videos. This trend is quickly approaching critical mass—in other words, there’s never been a better time to try it out for yourself.

Much of the attention on this style is thanks to TikTok user @Groovy_Mal who uploaded her highly duet-able curl transformation last year. Almost immediately, scores of other uses with all hair types, colors, and lengths started trying her tutorial, uploading their results next to hers. Much of the trend's popularity is due to just how easy it actually is to pull off. According to Mischa, the only real prerequisite for the Farrah is a compatible cut.

Get The Look
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As with any retro look, half the fun is sourcing your inspiration. Diving into the #farrahfawcetthair tag is a great place to start. It's full of photos of inspo from Farrah herself, people's own modern interpretation, and even lots of vintage shots of parents and grandparents wearing the style back in the day.

"Chat with your mom, favorite aunt, and grandma and see if they have any old pictures or beauty products to flip through and experiment," Mischa suggests. From there, it's time to assess the current state of your cut and see if it works for this style. According to Mischa, the shag-and-layered version of the Farrah works best on those with lots of layers already. "The shorter the face-framing, the better the style," she adds. "This is not for people with extra-long hair and minimal layering."

Before styling, Mischa recommends taking a few minutes to lay some product groundwork to guarantee grip and hold, both key for big, curl-focused styles. "I suggest using a styling product to build structure in the hair," she says. Finally, it's time for the styling to begin. To get your own Farrah, hot rollers or a velcro approximation are a must, Mischa says. She advises the following two methods:

Hot Roller Method

1. Apply mousse or another styling agent after rough-drying hair.
2. Using hot rollers, roll chunks of hair back away from the face—that's key.
3. Allow the rollers to cool completely before removal.
4. Once they're entirely cool to the touch, remove rollers and brush.

Velcro Roller Method

1. Apply mousse or another styling agent after rough-drying hair.
2. Using a small-to-medium round brush, blow the hair back with light tension.
3. Quickly wrap each piece of hot hair around a velcro roller and clip it into place.
4. Allow hair to completely cool, then remove rollers and brush through.

​If you're styling a wig, particularly a synthetic one, Mischa suggests using a slightly different type of roller:

• Roll hair back away from the face with vent rollers.
• Place a bag over the wig and steam the curls with a clothing steamer.
• Allow hair to completely dry, then remove rollers and brush through.

​Get The Products

Mischa laments the discontinuation of Farrah's own famous heat styler, the Schick Speed Styler, for which she did popular commercials featuring her feathered cut. "If the blow-dry brush that Farrah actually used in the commercial still were made now, that would be my number one choice," she tells us.

Luckily, you're still good with a small-to-medium round brush and quality blow dryer. "For brushes, I would use something medium-sized and one that doesn't pull too much (light tension)," she explains. For hair that's already straight and smooth, she recommends a metal brush like the Harry Josh Magnesium Thermal Brush 1.7 Inch ($55).

"If your hair is thicker and needs to be smoothed while adding bounce and fluff, I would use a boar bristle brush like the Spornette 856 Italian," Mischa says. We all know styling products are critical, and Mischa is a fan of Leonor Greyl's soft, volume-building mousse and heat-protecting Cult + King Setspray ($35), which doubles as a hairspray.
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Above all else, Mischa recommends never taking any of it too seriously. "Have some fun with you hair and flip it out all sorts of ways!" she encourages. "It's meant to last for days! It looks and feels amazing while bouncing to every disco track!" With a few rollers and a little patience, we can all be dancing queens this spring.