Some believe that this was done to create an even more imposing persona and thereby intimidate their enemies. Coil like and curly hair tends to naturally tangle and twirl around other hair strands, a key component of the Viking dreadlock hairstyle. Thank you for visiting Scandinavia Facts. Unfortunately, its impossible to pin down the exact origin of dreads. According to Roman records, the Celtic people, Germanic tribes, and the Vikings wore their hair in rope-like strands. Some people consider braids and locks as same but both are totally different. Twisted Locks of Hair: The Complicated History of Dreadlocks There are different hairstyles that you can make with your short dreads but one of the best hairstyles given below. Whether the Vikings had dreadlocks or braids is a matter of some discussion. Those of higher status have long, lush locs often accessorized with ornate caps and brightly colored ribbons. All Rights Reserved. Dreads can differ based on numerous factors, including the texture and thickness of the persons hair, the humidity of the area, and many other personal and environmental factors. Men and women wore different hairstyles to express their masculinity or femininity in their communities. While the Vikings didnt keep written historical records, the people they encountered often did. Women's Men's Kids' & Baby Bags & Purses Women's Clothing . Then, any loose ends were woven into the hair using either fingers or the darning needle. In Hinduism, some holy men wear their hair in locs to harness their spiritual energy and pay respect to Shiva. You can make variations with dreadlocks and one of the best styles is the twin bun with dreads. Carvings and paintings from archeological excavations depict the ancient Egyptians and the classical Greeks wearing dreadlocks, while Australian Aborigines and Hindu holy men have worn dreads for centuries and many still sport the style today. However, not all Vikings had dreadlocks, and hairstyle was often associated with social class. But did you know that plenty of other cultures throughout history including the Vikings have worn braids and dreadlocks too? Leaving their hair loose or in braids could signify their unmarried status. Their imposing looks reminded opponents of the mythical snake-haired creatures like Medusa, who was feared by many. Also see What Color Eyes Did Vikings Have? Braids require much less maintenance compared to dreadlocks. 3. So did the Vikings wear dreadlocks? This is often interpreted as meaning dreads, and many early Christians adopted the hairstyle as tribute. Fortunately, there are some other groups that provide us with an indication of whether Vikings had dreads. But if you fancy having a go at doing it yourself there are plenty of online tutorials to help you get your favourite look. Are you curious about what the Vikings looked like? (The Historical Truth). To secure the cord, the wearer would have folded one cord over on itself once, then created a slipknot around the base of the braid. Danish shoe brands: Fall head over heels for these Danish shoes, The best Scandinavian Christmas tree decorations and ornaments, Animals in Norse mythology: A guide to Nordic animals, Norse tattoos to avoid: Problematic Norse symbol tattoos, An exhaustive list of Viking god names and their meanings, Did Vikings have beards? While it wasnt uncommon for men to shear off most of the hair on the sides or back of their head, most Viking women kept all of their hair long, keeping it off their neck by braiding and knotting it at the top of the skull. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Due to the lack of concrete evidence, its impossible to accurately state whether Vikings wore dreadlocks. Both Viking men and women are thought to have worn dreads. There is no question that the Vikings had dreadlocks that were different in texture from those of African and Indian origins (although recent studies and historical sources suggest that there were also Black Vikings, whose hair was likely of a different texture from those Vikings who were genetically Northern European). Some Vikings likely wore dreads, though most likely sported thick plaits of braids or the reverse mullet hairstyle. 50 Creative Dreadlock Hairstyles for Women to Wear in 2023 - Hair Adviser In the Torah and Bible, Samson had seven locks of hair. Swedish girl names: Your list of top Swedish female names, Swedish boy names: Popular Swedish male names, Viking video games: Video games with Viking and Norse mythology, The Best Bike Tours in Copenhagen, Denmark. What we do know mostly comes from the written accounts of foreign peoples that interacted with Vikings. To achieve the Irish ribbon knot, the woman would have followed these steps: The woman may have pinned the knot in place or worn a protective head covering to keep the knot secure. There are depictions of Norse women wearing their hair in small braids around their heads, laced with long flowing flocks, a typical female Viking dreadlocks style. The Vikings neighbours, the Celts had their own version of dreadlocks which they called elflocks, so the Vikings may well have shared this name, although theres no written record of what the Vikings would have called dreadlocks. The long glossy flowing locks intermingled with a few neat braids that you often see Viking women wearing on TV series and in films are unlikely to have been realistic. The fact is the Vikings were one of several ancient people groups to have worn dreadlocks, along with the ancient Gauls, Celts, Indians, and many more. See What Kind of Clothes Did the Vikings Wear? Everything you need to know about travelling in Scandinavia. These braids were likely then pinned in place using a stick or comb while the woman secured the braids with more cord. Starter locs take time to transform as they mat and develop into mature dreadlocks. Shiva is a Hindu deity often depicted as having long, tidy dreads. As you now know, Vikings, Celts, and other Germanic tribes wore their hair in ropelike strands. Descriptions of elflocks are found in ancient Celtic folklore. Wealthy individuals adorned their hairstyles with brightly colored ribbons and embellished caps. Many Viking men and women had dreadlocks. 5 Traditional Female Viking Hairstyles - Scandinavia Facts Dreadlocks, or dreads, is a hairstyle thats been around since early civilization. Laghertas dreads. Were dreadlocks important to the Vikings? However, later literary evidence suggests that many groups required married women to keep their hair covered with caps during the latter half of the Viking age. The woman contends that dreadlocks belong to "my culture," and the man says "it doesn't matter." Cory Goldstein responds to viral dreadlocks video: UPDATED Dreadlocks are essentially. So, if you also love to have dreadlocks but havent tried them before then, you can go with a simple Viking dreadlocks hairstyle for females. The Vikings would often braid these dreads together to form thick plaits, though they could pull them into tight buns or knots. Want more hair styling guides? However, the simplicity of the Irish ribbon knot would make it an easy-to-achieve style that took little effort and no cord, sticks, or needles to complete. All you need to know about Viking weddings, What is a cloudberry? In addition, it would have protected the wearers hair and kept her warm in the colder months. Just roll and clip them as you would with regular hair. Viking Hairstyles Women with Short, Medium, Long Length Furthermore, the first archaeological evidence of dreadlocks comes from there, where mummies have been discovered sporting dreadlocks still in good shape. Since they were close to the Vikings, they influenced them differently. The Vikingshad diverse hair types, from thin blonde strands to thick black heads of hair. And if you want to channel your inner Ivar from Vikings, check out this video, which shows exactly how to do a long-haired Viking dreadlock style. They have been documented on nearly every continent, from Asia and the Middle East to North America and Aboriginal Australia. Curl Centric services, articles, content, and products are provided for informational purposes only. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Many historians believe this caused their hair to become matted and form dreads. This section will cover some cultures known to have dreads. are well-known for being fierce Scandanavian warriors, but what were their haircare routines like? Unmarried Viking women often wore their hair loose or in untucked braids to symbolize their maidenhood. As Viking culture is largely centered on voyaging and exploring, there is no reason to believe that Vikings didnt have significant interactions with Celtic peoples. Vikings women wore their female Viking dreadlocks differently before and after marriage. People from all over the globe experienced hair matting, so its impossible to attribute the style to any one group. One of the strongest indicators of occasional shaving or baldness comes, (a Greek historian), who wrote that the prince of Kievan Rus shaved his head completely, except for a lock of hair that hung down on one side.. The most crucial difference is the way that they are structured. Another part of the controversy surrounding dreads stems from how theyre perceived in some cultures. Understanding how Vikings wore their hair is also an excellent way to understand more about Viking culture and practices! This style would have been convenient and practical while moving through daily tasks, exactly like it is today. Some people still believe that Vikings invented dreadlocks but the truth is totally opposite. Seline Shenoy is a journalist and podcaster. Viking women were just as integral to Viking raids are their male counterparts. While modern pop culture depictions of Vikings would have you believe they were unkempt and rather rough around the edges in appearance, the evidence supports the use of combs and a preference for well-groomed beards and hair. Even though people in different places at different times in history wore dreadlocks, that doesnt mean the hairstyles were exactly the same. No one wore dreadlocks before anyone, it's what all unbrushed hair does. There is also evidence of Viking women wearing their hair in ponytails. Many Viking men sported a hairstyle known today as a "reverse mullet," whereby hair was allowed to grow long in the front but was cut short or even shaved in the back of the head. But many people have heard through the grapevine that Vikings wore dreads in ancient times. You can also use different leather straps to make it a more dangerous look. Like the Egyptians, advanced preservation techniques allowed some of the corpses to remain fully intact. Instead, they use the term locs to describe the style. Generally, Vikings wore their hair in one of the following styles: Long hair was the norm for most Viking communities, but it could also be a nuisance. Due to the time and effort it takes to achieve such a hairstyle, the Arden braid was likely a more formal way of wearing the hair, or it was a protective style that the woman would wear for several days. The Vikings who were focused on warfare may have worn their hair short in the back to make it easier to wear protective helmets. For example, many Viking women wore long hair, braiding their locks to form thick plaits that they could wrap or weave into tight buns. Norse viking rune beads with antique silver metal finish on each edge, plus Northern European symbol and character on the middle, are with retro exotic style. When many folks think of dreadlocks, the drama that unfolded between Zendaya and Giuliana Rancic probably comes to mind. to learn more. The men who spent much of their time in battle and traveling needed to keep their long hair from getting in the way during their raids. These protective coverings would have made married and unmarried Viking women easily identifiable. Also see Why Do Scandinavians Have Asian Eyes? Braided locs have a specific zig-zag shape thats created by weaving hair strands. Creating dreads is a long process as they take time to form. However, silk was a luxury and imported item, so most Viking women likely had hoods of linen or wool. While there is no clear evidence that Norse dreadlocks were influenced by Celtic elflocks, they appear to look similar and seem to have been used for similar purposes. She may have wrapped this hair two or three times with the tail end of the braid hanging loosely. Wise Geek: What is the Difference Between Dreads and Braids? It is also believed that the hairstyles were also indicative of the persons designation and that they may have also carried religious and other culturally symbolic meanings. Some Viking men preferred to wear their hair in a reverse mullet style. to learn what scientists believe about their faces, hairstyles, clothing, skin color, and more. Viking culture was kept alive through its oral tradition, much of which has been lost over the centuries. Some historians believe that unmarried Viking girls may have worn dreadlocks for special formal occasions or festivals. 20 Best Viking Hairstyles Female ideas | viking hair, hair styles, long hair styles Viking Hairstyles Female 20 Pins 3y G Collection by Makeup Artist Similar ideas popular now Hair Beauty Hair Makeup Wedding Hairstyles Braids Braided Hairstyles Updo Braided Updo Up Hairstyles Hairdos Updos Viking Hairstyles Female Dreads 2016 Hair Trends Hair Expo The majority of ancient people wore dreadlocks for religious purposes. In this article, well dive into Viking hairstyles and answer once and for all if Vikings had dreadlocks. Viking men had the most options in terms of acceptable hairstyles. It was said to be bad luck to comb these tangles and knots out. Beautiful Blonde Sword wielding viking warrior female. Viking Dreads - Etsy Did Celtic dreadlocks influence Viking dreads? The Arden Woman was buried in a bog, and the conditions there preserved most of her body, including her clothing, dark blonde hair, and stomach contents. Since personal hygiene was known to be important to the Vikings, its likely that wearing braids and dreadlocks was a practical solution to keeping hair neat and in control. Both may be true. See How Vikings Got Tattoos and Why to learn more. Historians think dreads served as a status symbol for ancient Vikings. Kenneth Byrd holds a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 9. | Yes, But Not Always, Written by: Author Olivia Moore |Reviewed by: Editorial Team. Some historians believe that the Vikings may have had a distinct way of braiding their hair or arranging and growing it into dreadlocks. Ancient Romans alluded to this when they described the Viking dreads as snake-like.. There is no clear timeline for when the Vikings embraced specific hairstyles. These braids are then secured using a long length of suede or wool cord. The Celts were a collection of Indo-European tribes who originated from central Europe. From shamans to warriors, dreads were a staple hairstyle due to the curly nature of African hair. Historians have uncovered that the hairdo was common among the people in ancient Egypt, Pacific Islanders, the New Guineans, as well as the Somali and the Maasai, apart from many other tribes, including the Vikings. The 30 Most Popular Dread Styles for Women to Rock in 2023. However, not all Vikings had dreadlocks, and hairstyle was often associated with social class. Without photographic evidence or the existence of art from the period that clearly shows Vikings wearing dreadlocks, its difficult to determine whether their dreads were any more special or different than the deadlock styles favored by other cultures. For instance, Romans have written about the appearance of Vikings, describing their long flowing hair as hair like snakes. This resembles contemporary depictions of Norse heroes such as Thor, played by actor Chris Hemsworth. These caps were square-shaped with a rounded corner to hug the crown of the head. The reality however is that Viking women didnt have conditioner, hair stylists or detangler so their hairstyles had to be practical! Both forms of locks may have been simply the result of practical necessity or the lack of regular combing or brushing. Dreadlocks were common among the Vikings and in other people who lived in ancient Egypt, Guinea, and Pacific Island. See What Did the Vikings Look Like? Enslaved people were made to wear their hair cropped short to show their loyalty and subjection to their owners. For more details, you can check the below-given picture. Curl Centric has an affiliate relationship for some of the products that we recommend. The Viking TV show also had characters like Lagertha, who wore a hybrid of dreadlocks and braids. r/Norse - Is there good historical evidence of Vikings (and/or people Our content is for informational purposes only. The more ornate this covering, the greater the wealth of her husband. We are sharing some of the Female Viking Dreadlocks but we are not sure whether either ancient Vikings wore dreadlocks or not. Youll have all the information you need to answer the question: did Vikings have dreadlocks? Recent depictions of Viking women often portray them with elaborately braided hair, mohawks, dreadlocks, and partially shaved heads. Consequently, having short hair was a sign of disgrace, as it identified you as an enslaved person with fewer rights and freedoms than the average community member. Based on this evidence, theres a good chance that Vikings wore dreadlocks. Maidens wore the Kransen with these styles, while married women wore buns or caps. Although Vikings and Celts wore their hair in dreads, historians agree that neither group invented them. Hairstyles were used a sign of status for men too slaves often had their hair tightly cropped or their heads shaved completely to show loyalty to their owner. Wealthy individuals adorned their hairstyles with brightly colored ribbons and embellished caps. But Viking warriors likely developed dreads while spending long bouts of time away from home. When the Vikings pillaged resources from villages, they typically gathered people from those areas to take home as slave workers (alsocalled thralls). After all, familiarizing yourself with a cultures most popular hairstyles is an excellent way to understand which hairdos were popular and which were rare. There is an array of opinions about people wore dreadlocks. Viking Dreadlocks For Women: It is a huge confusion that either Vikings have braids or dreadlocks. In modern times, dreadlocks are still a popular hairstyle for many people. It is also reasonable to assume that dreadlock-type styles may have developed simultaneously due to the relative ease of allowing hair to become matted over time. Since the Elling woman died a rather violent death, her hair may have come loose as she was hanged and buried. Lykoow 110 Pieces Viking Beard Beads Antique Norse Hair Tube Beads Where Viking dreads for females, too? Historians believe the word dreadlocks was first used when the British army fought Kenyan warriors during the 19th-century colonial battles. Those who are looking for the Female Viking dreads or locs can check some of the coolest dreadlock hairstyles from this website. Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? Dreadlocks, commonly known as locs or dreads are ropelike hairs. But on the question of Viking dreads, historical sources have something to say about that. Vikings were fighters, adventurers, and explorers! Can Black People Have Red Hair? Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. We hope this article has given you some insight into the rich history behind dreadlocks and answered your questions about Vikings and their dreads. But contrary to popular belief, the Vikings werent solely comprised of warriors.