From the end of the 8th through to the 11th century, a mass exodus of Scandinavians leaving
their homelands to seek their fortunes elsewhere changed the course of history
forever. These strong, seafaring warriors – known collectively as Vikings or Norsemen – undertook
large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest and trading throughout Europe. Although
their history was passed down orally, and in part observation or inscribed in runes, there is much
mystery and speculation about the lives of these fascinating conquerors. Today, in Nutty History,
we will uncover how the Vikings’ commitment to cleanliness, their silken and styled tresses,
and head-to-toe tattoos shatter the preconceived image we’ve all been told. Let’s get started.
Unlike much of the Romanized world, Norse culture did not draw a distinction between male and female
beauty. The same terms were used for both men and women, both just as likely to be discussed as the
other. Furthermore, the description of a person’s beauty did not necessarily have any sensual
overtones. For example, a poet could go on at length about how beautiful someone was without
anyone assuming that he was attracted to the person being described. That probably would
have made dating a little tricky at the time. For women, their physical beauty was based on
the whiteness of their arms and the length and shininess of their hair (the longer, the better).
If only they left behind their secret to shiny hair in the runes…
Compared to the rest of Europe, the Norse cultures put a higher emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene.
Many grooming tools, such as metal toothpicks and ear spoons have been found in archeological digs.
Now as far as we know, Viking men took serious pride in their appearance, adorning themselves
with clothes in bright colors and wearing jewelry and cloak pins that explicitly showed off their
wealth. They were also said to bathe at least once a week, which we know doesn’t seem like
enough these days, but back then Europeans would bathe 2-3 times per year. Sweat baths or steam
baths were the Norse versions of saunas and were a popular method for keeping clean. They also used
heated stones and hot spring water to create the steam inside their bathhouses. The process
of sweating off dirt and grime was viewed as its own form of cleaning. Man, they make enduring the
heat of a sauna sound like no sweat at all! And their cleanliness didn’t stop with their skin.
They were even said to change their clothes too regularly according to one English cleric.
He accused them of doing these things specifically “to undermine the virtue of married women and
even seduce the daughters of nobles to be their mistresses. We don’t know about you ladies, but we
can appreciate a man that puts in a little effort when he’s in the middle of conquering a city.
With the Vikings being such sticklers for hygiene and having such fluid ideas of beauty,
we might expect that makeup would have been a big part of their lifestyle. Surprisingly,
this is not actually the case. In the writings of Ibrahim ibn Yaqub who visited around 965 AD,
he mentioned that Viking men and women used some kind of indelible cosmetic to “enhance the beauty
of their eyes.” There is a good chance that if this remark was accurate that they would have
lined their eyes with Kohl, a black powder, usually antimony sulfide or lead sulfide,
used as makeup. Yaqub’s note suggests that it was conventional for Vikings to add a
“foreign substance” to their face to change or enhance their appearance.
In any case, our modern belief that the Vikings painted their faces might not have been entirely
accurate, especially considering the lack of proof by way of artistic depictions.
Perhaps they were just too busy conquering to find the time. And anyways, with the legions of
sports fans who paint their faces and bodies for games today we’ve more than made up for lost time.
Long hair, short hair, shaved – there were numerous coifs available to the average
Viking man. To keep their locks on lockdown they had separate brushes for their hair and beards,
made of bone, antler, wood and ivory. They moisturized their beards with shampoo made
of special oils, of beechwood ash and goat fat. Not exactly appetizing for anyone looking to lean
in for a kiss though is it… Among the more popular styles that would’ve been hitting
during that time were including, but not limited to: the classic neck to shoulder-length look.
I mean what better way to display a beautiful head of healthy hair than to let it hang loose?
Even if it might have gotten in the way when engaging in hand-to-hand combat. It’s so annoying
when work gets in the way of your look. Not to worry, you could still look trendy without long
hair. Well-known woodcarvings (Oseberg Ship) and tapestries (Bayeux Tapestry) depict some warriors
with short hair on top and the sides and back of the head either shaved or cut close to the skin.
Like a little patch of grass on top of the head. Not so practical for keeping your head warm in
the winter months! One of our favorite Viking looks was – wait for it- the reverse mullet! Aka
long hair on top and very short hair in the back. Maybe Flock of Seagulls got their revolutionary
hairstyle from Vikings after all? Mystery solved. Taking the reverse mullet one step further was
the Viking leader Sveinald, who famously had a completely shaved head except for a longish
lock of hair on one side of his head. We’re sure it was a conversation starter, if nothing else.
Men’s hairstyles did not start and end with scissors and styling. They were apparently
quite particular about hair color as well. Unlike what we’ve been told, not all Norsemen were born
with blond hair, but that did not stop brunettes and redheads from achieving the golden locks that
were a la mode throughout the Viking age. But it’s not like they could just pop the store and pick up
some Manic Panic to do the deed. They would bathe themselves in a very strong soap made with lye,
which was able to bleach their hair (and beards) blond! Maybe they truly believed that blonds have
more fun. Norse women, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have as much fun with their hair as their
male counterparts. Most women kept their hair long and would style it depending on the demands
of their job or status. One hairstyle was to tie their long hair into a single knot at the back
of the head, with the free end hanging down like a ponytail. They were also known to adorn their hair
with coloured ribbons braided into the hair, which indicated a woman was unmarried. While,
on the other hand, the bun look was often reserved for the ladies who had put a ring on it.
While the Vikings might not have participated much in using makeup, it’s entirely possible that they
chose to indulge in something a little more on the permanent side. Tattoos. This makes sense
considering these people were courageous warriors who fought without fear of death
yet were also talented craftsmen and artists. They were masters of intimidation, which to an extent,
involved their appearance. From the dragon heads carved into the bows of their longboats to the
markings on their skin, the Vikings projected such an impression of power and brutality that battles
were half-won at the mere sight of them. And what better way to do that than with a little ink.
Arabic scholar Ibn Fadlan noted that the Rusiyyah had tattoos that began at their fingertips
and continued up their arms to their necks. And another account described seeing tattoos on their
arms and chests. Well, go big or go home, right? He described the ink as dark green in appearance,
but it was likely dark blue as that was the color that would have been achieved using wood ash,
which was the skin coloring agent of those times. Now, what kind of tattoos were these Viking
Warriors wearing? Well, we’re doubting they chose hearts with “Mom” written through the center,
but patterns, trees, and animals woul have been a pretty solid bet.
These markings would have meant a lot to the Vikings, and they likely would have been
unrecognizable to others. I wonder if any of those Vikings got a tattoo they regretted?
The Vikings’ emphasis on being well-groomed reflected the value of the larger culture.
It has been suggested that the concept of Fate played a part in this as one never knew the day
of one’s death and so should always look one’s best for the inevitable arrival in the afterlife.
So basically, the Vikings invented YOLO! What do you think? Are you going to run out and get that
tattoo sleeve you always dreamed of? Or shave your head and leave a little braid behind to
live more like the Vikings? Leave us your take in the comments below and don’t forget
to like and subscribe for more outrageous Nutty History videos. See you next time!