Record-Breaking Barbers

Since 1955, the Guinness World Records have been the official recorders of achievements from across the globe, be that amazing human feats or extreme occurrences of the natural world. Some of the most well-known records include incredible and bizarre accomplishments such as the longest nails, the biggest (and smallest) dogs and the most burgers eaten in x amount of time. Little did you know that barbers and barbershops have some titles of their own!

Oldest practising barber

Born on 2nd March 1911, Anthony Mancinelli [was] an active professional barber at Fantastic Cuts in New Windsor, New York, where he [worked] full time, cutting hair five days a week from noon to 8pm, aged 107 years 220 days as of 8th October 2018. Anthony started work in barbershops when he was just 11. By 1923, aged 12, Anthony was cutting hair full time. (Guiness World Records)

He opened his own barbershop in 1930 and owned it for 40 years, before selling the business and working at other establishments.

Anthony passed away in 2019 at the age of 108 after (reluctantly) retiring just weeks before.

Most faces shaved in one hour – electric razor

The most faces shaved in one hour with an electric razor by an individual is 69 by barber Furkan Yakar in conjunction with L’Oréal Men Expert and Movember Foundation in Berlin, Germany, on 31st October 2018. (Guiness World Records)

Fastest haircut

The fastest haircut is 47.17 seconds and was achieved by Konstantinos Koutoupis in Athens, Greece, on 19th February 2017. (Guiness World Records)

Oldest barbershop

Truefitt & Hill is the oldest barbershop in the world, as certified by Guinness Book of World Records in April 2000. Truefitt was established in 1805 by William Francis Truefitt. Truefitt styled himself as hairdresser to the British Royal Court. In 1911, Edwin Hill set up a barbershop on Old Bond Street, also near the royal neighbourhoods in London and it was to this address H.P. Truefitt (William’s nephew) moved in 1935 to create Truefitt & Hill. 

Famous clients include the British Royal Family, members of visiting Royal Households, business leaders, Members of Parliament, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, John Wayne, various Ambassadors and the diplomatic service and visiting dignitaries. (Wikipedia)

Most haircuts in 24 hours by an individual

The most consecutive haircuts in 24 hours by an individual is 526 and was achieved by Nabi Salehi of A&N Style Hair Studio, in London, UK, on 4th June 2011. The event started at 10am on Friday 3rd June 2011 and finished 24 hours later, a loud car horn was used to mark the start and end of the record attempt. For this record, only gentlemen had their hair cut. (Guiness World Records)

The criteria for the record attempt, meant people having the cuts had to have hair at least 1cm long to start with, and there had to be a noticeable difference in the appearance of those who came in with long hair. (BBC News)

Largest barbers pole

The largest barber’s pole measures 4.46 m (14 ft 7 in), and was achieved by Jim Bolin in Casey, Illinois, USA, on 28th September 2019.

Casey, Illinois is home to multiple Guinness World Records records. Residents and city officials have a “Big Things in a Small Town” initiative to determine what big object they will create next.