While barbering can be a rewarding career, it can also be physically and mentally demanding. Long hours of standing, high levels of concentration, and dealing with difficult customers can lead to stress and burnout. Some barbers may quit due to these challenges, or because they want to pursue different career paths.

Barbers of the middle ages not only practiced shaving, hair-cutting, and hair-dressing, they also dressed wounds and performed surgical operations. They were called barber-surgeons.

Back in the medieval ages, a Barber (or Barber Surgeon) was the only person with the sharp instruments needed for a shave and trim. Because a Barber owned such sharp instruments, which were not so readily available, they also had to perform minor surgeries, dentistry (tooth extractions) and tasks such as bloodletting.