The Vikings did not have access to the advanced hair care products, synthetic extensions, and teams of professionals it takes to create the Viking dreads we see in dramatic productions. In 2012, about 180 National Football League players wore dreadlocks. [12]. Dreadlocks have become a popular hairstyle among professional athletes. The Best Men's Shampoo For Every Hair Type, The Best Pomades for Every Single Hair Type, The Best Hair Clippers in the World, Tested, 10 Best Shampoos for Promoting Hair Growth, The Controversial Hair Loss History Of Finasteride, Twisted Locks of Hair: The Complicated History of Dreadlocks, ESQUIRE, PART OF THE HEARST UK FASHION & BEAUTY NETWORK. To maintain long, healthy hair, constant hair maintenance is needed to keep the hair from breaking or tangling. The Editor's Choice All You Need To Know About 2a, 2b, And 2c Hair: The Right Care And Styling Routine What is known about the Vikings is that they sometimes used lye or other substances to stain or bleach their hair to a lighter shade. It is for this reason Guinness World Records has decided to rest the category and will no longer be monitoring the category for longest dreadlock.[42]. Did Vikings have dreads or braids. The problem with these depictions is that there are either artistic interpretations or archeological evidence of decomposed hair. Comments like those mentioned earlier are not isolated and further reinforce the role of education as a tool to dismantle racism at its base. [15]. 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. As a Status Symbol Historians think dreads served as a status symbol for ancient Vikings. Another reason to believe that beards were considered normal is the fact that they are mentioned in several sagas or legends in Norwegian culture who wore a particularly long beard during his time. Rastafari hold that Haile Selassie is a direct descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, through their son Menelik I. The Romans created many accounts of Viking encounters, and described their hair as being like snakes. Most of the information historians use to learn about Viking hairstyles comes from carvings, statues, and ancient texts. [4] Frescoes discovered on the Aegean island of Thera (modern Santorini, Greece) depict individuals with long braided hair or long dreadlocks. The history of the name "dreadlocks" is unclear. The five myths are: Vikings were dirty and unkempt Vikings wore horned helmets Vikings looked like we do today Vikings' clothing style was admired throughout the world Vikings' appearance was marked by battle wounds MYTH 1: Vikings were dirty and unkempt Unwashed, rough warriors with froth hanging out of the corners of the mouth. [5]. After all, weve all seen the TV shows where many Vikings appear to have elaborate braids or long, flowing locks male or female. [3] Some researchers have speculated that combs were used for the control of lice and nits. The Vikings would often braid these dreads together to form thick plaits, though they could pull them into tight buns or knots. Viking women were just as integral to Viking raids are their male counterparts. Viking men had the most options in terms of acceptable hairstyles. When I posted a photograph of a Native American man with dreadlocks, I was surprised to see the amount of attention it garnered. Although when children are born with naturally matted hair, they are referred to as Dada' and viewed as spiritual beings. Their dreadlocks were inspired by the Nazarites of the Bible. In reality, the Vikings took care with their personal grooming, bathing, and hairstyling. If we link to any product, you should assume that well receive a commission when you buy it, at no extra cost to you. Multiple Cornrows Viking Hairstyles. Learn all about Viking dreads from history, including when they started and their importance for females too. Long hair was common among the Vikings, as short hair was associated with enslavement. For hair to be included in Viking titles, hair must have had a high degree of importance in the Norse society. The response has been immense. This has led many to believe that dreadlocks and the smoking of cannabis (note: ganja is a Hindi word) was inspired by traditions brought to Jamaica by Indian indentured labourers. You would think that the Vikings who could travel to America (or Greenland) would have ended up with dreadlocks after their journey but this is probably not true. [16]. However it seems nonsensical to suggest this constitutes evidence of the existence of dreadlocks in the early part of the first millennium, let alone using this as the reason why you may wear dreadlocks today. FIghting and honor was a way of life for the Vikings and anything that impeded that would have been tossed aside. Your email address will not be published. In recent years there has been an ongoing conversation about whether wearing ones hair in dreadlocks is a form of cultural appropriation. The vikings were known for keeping their beard and hair tidy, not exactly what you acccociate with dreadlocks. 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. Did Vikings have dreads? But Viking warriors likely developed dreads while spending long bouts of time away from home. Are you curious about what the Vikings looked like? Hygiene and beauty Combs of wood or bone are amongst the most common finds from the Viking period. Celtic folklore talks about fairy-locks developed when fairies visited sleeping Celts to tie knots within their hair. Many cultures developed dreadlocks as independent innovations at different points in history. They were also described as having "rope-like" or "snake-like" hair which could be dreadlocks, braids, or something similar. Viking hairstyles were both functional and practical. This is probably a reference to dreadlocks, but like most skaldic poems, there is no way of knowing for sure. Cornrows, unlike braids, are a hairstyle in which hair is very close to the scalp, and can form a geometric design, like cross roads or paths formed in the grain fields (this is where the American name "cornrow" originates from). As per the NFL's rulebook, a player's hair is considered part of their "uniform," meaning the locks are fair game when attempting to bring them down. This piece was originally published in October 2020. Yes, it is believed that the braids worn by Vikings were probably used as a way of displaying their status or just to have some fun with hairstyles. Popular culture sometimes depicts Vikings with dreadlocks, but modern portrayals aren't. However for Rastas, dreadlocks are much more than just a hairstyle. Effectively the dreadlock can become an extension and therefore impossible to adjudicate accurately. For thousands of years, the black community has been shunned for their thick coarse hair, so when a . This means they kept the top portion long (typically braided) but cut the sides and back very short. One of the best ways to determine whether Vikings had dreads is to explore the different types of hairstyles associated with Viking culture. Please see the About page for details. While it seems likely that some Vikings did indeed sport dreadlocks, they clearly weren't the first race or culture to wear them. Did Vikings have dreadlocks? This suggests that regular hygiene included cleaning and grooming hair. Where did dreadlocks originally come from? The practice of Ja (dreadlocks) is practiced in modern day Hinduism,[26][27][28] most notably by Sadhus who follow iva. We see further evidence of hair being used as a social marker when we look at the haircuts of the lower classes. Rather, the Vikings built the trellborgs which were the ring-shaped forts. This style would have been convenient and practical while moving through daily tasks, exactly like it is today. Each user should evaluate the information on our site and is encouraged to do further research before taking any action, inaction, or making any decision based on the content provided on our site. There are depictions of Vikings with some form of long, matted hair, both in illustrations and actual remains. Whatever hairstyle you had it is very likely that you kept it short enough for this not to be an issue. to learn more. While married Viking women typically tucked their long hair into a high bun, unmarried Viking women wore their hair loose, in braids, or in dreads, though both Viking men and women are thought to have worn dreads. I receive dozens of messages a day from people expressing their love for the page and thanking me for creating it. This has led many to believe that there would be many different forms of braids and styles, just like any other culture in the world around them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But Viking warriors likely developed dreads while spending long bouts of time away from home. [17] The typical reference to Viking implies the Norsemen who raided the coasts of England, and these men would not have worn braids. Dreadlocks represent a renewed sense of pride in African physical characteristics and Blackness, which ties in with their belief about keeping things natural. All Viking haircuts have adopted some present-day trends and features. On the other hand, married women wore their hair up, usually coiled in a bun at the backs of their heads. There is no evidence that Vikings wore dreadlocks before black people did. In the process we are labelled as oversensitive, while centuries of our history are erased before our eyes. Leaving their hair loose or in braids could signify their unmarried status. I certainly find it rather upsetting how vikings are usually portrayed as filthy, leather and fur wearing tattooed barbarians, for example, because it genuinely risks misleading people about historical cultures. An old Norse myth talks about the god Odin and his emotional distress after losing his son. Modern dreadlocks may have originated in Ancient Egypt (as depicted on theSarcophagus of Kawit) or Ancient Greece. While the Vikings didn't keep written historical records, the people they encountered often did. Still, theres a good chance that many of the earliest people (including Neanderthals) had dreadlocks. Hairstyles differed between classes and professions. Men and women have worn their hair in rope-like strands for centuries, and people all around the world still wear them today. Her comments are consistent with what is known as colour-blind racism. In any culture where there wasnt a focus on writing down records or creating artwork depicting their lives (at least not any that has survived until today), its always difficult to say definitively anything about that culture relating to appearance. Most guys fancy these cuts, while others find them to be super girly and retro. Both men and women Vikings grew dreadlocks. Cuthbert was a real monk who did live on Lindisfarne for a time, but he died of old age in 687, long before any Vikings mounted an attack on Holy Island. [7], During the Bronze and Iron Ages, many peoples in the Near East, Anatolia, Caucasus, East Mediterranean and North Africa such as the Sumerians, Elamites and Ancient Egyptians were depicted in art with braided or plaited hair and beards. Barrett, Leonard E. (1988). However, braids were likely not the most common hairstyle for most Vikings. So did the Vikings invent dreadlocks? Answered By: Morgan Cox Date: created: Jul 17 2022. Did Vikings Have Dreads? 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