Black and white barber pole meaning. Red white and blue barber poles look patriotic but there s a blood soaked meaning behind their design. A barber pole s colors represent the barber s role as a bloodletter. Here is why barber poles are red white and blue. Find out their true origin. Many believe the distinct colors of the barber poles are due to patriotism. However black and white helical daymarks do appear on other lights such as cape hatteras light and st. A barber pole motif has been used as a daymark and navigational aid for lighthouses the white shoal light is the only barber pole lighthouse in the united states and has been used in michigan s save our lights license plate. The barber pole s colors are a legacy of a thankfully long gone era when people went to barbers not just for a haircut or shave but also for bloodletting and other medical procedures.