Viking braid
Till Baldur's bane was borne to the pyre:įor the woe of Valhalla. (33) His hands he washed not nor his hair combed (32) From that fair shrub, shot by Hodur,īut Baldur' s brother was born soon after: It is said that Oðinn, king of the gods, left his hair unwashed as a sign of mourning for the death of his son Baldr in the poem Völuspá: It seems clear that regular washing of hands and hair was the norm, and that failing to keep oneself clean was an unusual practice, perhaps reserved for those in mourning. The translator's note for this stanza says that "Water, for washing one's hands, and a towel were offered before a meal" 6.
#Viking braid full
(4) A drink needeth to full dishes who cometh, Hávamál suggests that handwashing was customary before meals as well: The Vikings also bathed their hands and faces on at least a daily basis, usually in the morning upon arising.
In Iceland where natural hot springs are common, the naturally heated water was incorporated into the bath-house. In the summer, bathing could be preformed in lakes or streams, or within the bath-houses found on every large farm (these would be much like the Finnish sauna, though tub bathing was also used), while in winter the heated bath-house would be the primary location for bathing 4. Īside from Ibn Fadlan, almost all sources indicate that the Vikings were the among the cleanliest of all Europeans during the Middle Ages. It does seem here that Ibn Fadlan is exaggerating a bit for effect 3. It would be likely that the basin was actually emptied between each bath: Ibn Fadlan would still have felt the basin contaminated by previous use. The sagas often describe a woman washing a man's hair for him, often as a gesture of affection.
Ibn Fadlan's main source of disgust with the Rus bathing customs have to do with his Islamic faith, which requires a pious Mohammedan to wash only in running water or water poured from a container so that the rinsings do not again touch the bather. She carries the basin thus to all the household in turn, and each blows his nose, spits, and washes his face and hair in it. When he has finished, the servant carries the basin to the next person, who does likewise. Every day they must wash their faces and heads and this they do in the dirtiest and filthiest fashion possible: to wit, every morning a girl servant brings a great basin of water she offers this to her master and he washes his hands and face and his hair - he washes it and combs it out with a comb in the water then he blows his nose and spits into the basin. It is reported in the chronicle attributed to John of Wallingford that the Danes, thanks to their habit of combing their hair every day, of bathing every Saturday and regularly changing their clothes, were able to undermine the virtue of married women and even seduce the daughters of nobles to be their mistresses 2. Fridswides, who complained bitterly that the Viking Age men of the Danelaw combed their hair, took a bath on Saturday, and changed their woolen garments frequently, and that they performed these un-Christian and heathen acts in an attempt to seduce high-born English women 1 : Perhaps the most telling comment comes from the pen of English cleric John of Wallingford, prior of St. In reality, the Vikings took care with their personal grooming, bathing, and hairstyling. Gentle Reader: Personal Grooming in the Viking AgeĪlthough the popular image of the people of the Viking Age is one of wild-haired, dirty savages, this is a false perception. Tweezers, Earspoons and Other Personal Grooming Tools.what kind of grooming and personal hygeine did the Vikings use? (signed) Taking My Long Locks to Valhall Viking Age Hairstyles, Haircare, and Personal Grooming Dear Viking Answer Lady: How did the Vikings wear their hair? Did women wear long braids? How about the men? Did they wear braids? Long loose hair? Or cut their hair short for battle? Just what was the standard coiffure of viking men and women?Īnd while I'm at it, I've always heard that the Vikings were real barbarians.