Very few barbers are able to achieve any kind of recognition so when a famous hair stylist has a birthday, I look at is as an opportunity to find out what the 10 Best Known Barbers of all time might be. While Mr. Battelle is famous for his work with Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O there are a few others whose names you might recognize.
1. Deliliah - Not sure what she did for a living but she is rather well known for lopping off Samson’s locks.
2. Vidal Sassoon - best known for his hair products and his worldwide chain. However, he pioneered the wash and wear perm, and was rather a throwback in his short, low maintenance styles.
3. Sweeny Todd - ok, this one might be fictional, but he is rather well known and for many, vengeance can be rather enjoyable.
4. Perry Como - started as a barber but made a little bit more money as a singer.
5. Jon Peters - did hair for Barbra Streisand and she helped him get started as a Producer in Hollywood
6. Christophe – Might not of ever heard of him if Clinton hadn’t needed a haircut on the runway at LAX.
7. Kenneth Battelle - created Jackie O’s famous looks and worked with Marilyn Monroe as well. Life can’t be any better than that.
8. Walid Muhammad Farhan Juwar al-Zubaydi - Primarily famous for getting captured. Was responsible for changing the appearance of the Al Queda members.
9. Karl Nessler - invented the Hair Curler and the Perm.
10. Milton Pitts - White House Barber for Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush. I suppose in honor of yesterday’s column, I should mention the British equivalent George Trumper whose barbershop has been serving the last 6 Monarchs.
It was a close call today, today marked the anniversary of the US leaving the Gold Standard, I was thinking of the ten best known gold rushes. Maybe next year. Other Birthday today include David Ricardo (economist) and Ole Evinrude (outboard motors), both might have made for interesting lists.
Tags: Barbers, Cristophe, Deliliah, Hair Stylist, Kenneth Battelle, Perry Como, Sweeny Todd, Vidal Sassoon
