When you think of Vikings, the first things that strike your mind are helmets, swords, thick fur coats, and of course their beards. Thanks to different Norsemen appearances in pop culture, Viking beard is now quite a popular choice among men. So, if you believe in adorning a look that is a perfect blend of style and class, then Viking style beard could be the one for you.
If you too wish to adorn your look with a Viking beard but are scared to go for it, don't worry. With this guide, you will learn tips on how to grow Viking beard and maintain the style for that perfect look.
What is a Viking beard
Viking beard was first donned by powerful Scandinavian warriors between 8th to 11th centuries. The major reason for wearing such a long, burly beard was to keep their faces warm in the bitter cold. Gradually, it became a trend as many men found this beard style symbolising strength, boldness, and toughness. However, getting this beard style isn’t very easy. Read on to know a few tips that will help you get the Viking beard the right way.
Tips to how to grow Viking beard
Tip 1: Stop shaving and trimming for a while
Growing a Viking beard is all about bulk and length, so your facial hair needs to grow to the fullest capacity. Just like the Vikings, you too will have to let your beard grow on its own for some time, say about six months. Yes, that’s the amount of time you may need to grow a Viking beard with an average growth rate of half an inch every month.
Growing a Viking beard means no shaving or trimming until you have the desired length and volume, but it doesn’t mean you don’t take its care during this time. Pay attention to any ingrown hair, use beard shampoo and make sure to moisturise daily.
Your genetics, testosterone levels and lifestyle choices highly influence the rate of your Viking beard growth. Although you cannot really control the first two, you can definitely take good care of yourself to boost healthy hair growth.
Start by eating a well-balanced diet, exercising daily, getting plenty of sleep, reducing stress, and getting ample amount of Vitamin D through sunlight but also protecting your skin at the same time. Following these lifestyle changes you will notice your beard growing strong, long and healthy in the given span of time.
Read more tips on how to grow & maintain a beard.
Tip 2: Brush your beard with a beard comb to avoid knots and ensure smoothness
No shaving and trimming during the growth of your Viking beard still calls for hygiene - keeping your face tidy and presentable. As per Scandinavian archaeologists, who have found evidence, Vikings used beard combs for grooming and keeping their beard neat and clean.
Wooden beard combs made of hard, dense wood are known to evenly distribute the natural beard oils as compared to the plastic or metal ones. Moreover, wooden combs also reduce static build up and help grow a full, healthy beard. So, now you know which comb to pick!
You can use this comb daily to unknot the hair locks, getting smooth hair. This way, you also guide your beard to grow in the right direction, thereby preventing ingrown hair.
Tip 3: Trim from time to time to keep it neat and tidy
There will come a point when you can't stand the straggly hair anymore. Once you’ve acquired a decent amount of fullness and length and are well on your way to the Viking style beard of your dreams, it’s time to begin pruning once again.
Skilful trimming of stray hair with specialised beard scissors is the key to keeping a healthy beard. Here’s how to go about it:
Wash your beard with a beard shampoo instead of a regular soap, as these shampoos are milder and don’t strip your beard of its natural oils.
Pat the beard dry and comb it down and then out. Avoid cutting your beard when wet as we hair sits differently to dry hair and appears shorter. This may give you an uneven beard.
Use your beard comb as your guide while running it through your Viking beard at an angle.
Cut any hair that protrudes from the comb.
Don’t forget to cut the circumference of the throat that’s hidden under the beard.
Keep your beard clean and uniform to reduce itching.
Tip 4: Find the most suitable beard trimmer for you
These days, you will find different variants of beard trimmers. If you are serious about sporting a strong and powerful Viking beard, a good-quality beard trimmer is highly recommended.
A next-generation beard trimmer should include lifetime sharp blades for unprecedented performance that offers perfectly and evenly trimmed beard. A longer comb attachment will help maintain a longer length beard. Choosing superior quality trimmers such as the Braun trimmers from the House of Gillette can help you achieve that perfect look.
As you’re the one in control of your style, you’ll want a trimmer that offers ultimate effortless precision like the Braun 10-in-one Trimmer MGK7221 that comes with eight attachments and Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide razor. Its AutoSensing motor seamlessly adapts to your hair, providing you a smooth and even cut. Perfect for any beard, this Braun trimmer reads your beard 13 times per second and adjusts the power of the trimmer motor to its thickness.
If you’re looking for beard trimmers specifically, then you might also want to check out Braun Beard trimmer BT5260 that comes with precision dial, three attachments and Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide razor. Its long comb attachment (11-20mm) can be of great help to trim your Viking beard.
Moreover, you need not stay behind on styling, thanks to its trimmer head’s contour edging that helps shape your beard with accurate lines and edges.
The Braun Series XT3 all-in-one grooming kit with beard trimmer, shaver, and electric razor is another perfect tool for men. Its 4D blade technology has four cutting elements – two side trimmers and two central shaving zones that make 450 movements per second, helping you shave close enough to look great. Moreover, you have 1, 2, 3, 5 mm combs for face 0, 3 mm combs for body, so now you can style your Viking beard as perfectly as you want.
Compare Braun Stylers & Trimmers.
Tip 5: Trim around the beard to create the desired shape
Once you reach your personal terminal beard point (the point at which your beard stops growing), you’ll need to learn how to shape your long beard for that striking Viking look.
To begin beard shaping:
Examine your beard in a mirror for split ends or breakage, which is more likely a case in longer beards.
Carefully trim the ends of your beard regularly. Keep in mind, getting rid of one unruly inch is easier than sacrificing three inches later down the line.
Wash your beard using a beard shampoo and gently pat it dry. Wet beard may end up with an uneven line, so make sure your beard is completely dry.
Separate the beard hair by combing it, as it allows you to clearly see where you need to cut.
Keep the circumference of hair around the throat clean and uniform to achieve the most striking beard shape possible.
You can also read how to grow and trim a long beard.
Tip 6: Moisturise with beard oil to grow and maintain a healthy and soft beard
If you are wondering how to keep your beard soft, beard oil is an essential product – especially for longer styles such as the Viking beard. Big, burly beards are more prone to ingrown hair, dryness and irritation – and no one wants a dusty, flaky beard!
Once you wash the beard, take some beard balm or a few drops of beard oil and massage into your face. Massage by working outwards to cover the lengths of the hair. Repeat this at least three times per week to encourage hair growth in the right direction.
Thanks to all dedicated beard products available today, you can soften and tame any unruly beard hair easily. Thus, ensuring your Viking beard stays shiny and well groomed.
Tip 7: Get inspired by the famous braided beard style for a perfect look
Viking warriors often wore beard braids under their helmets in battle to keep the hair off their face. This plaited beard style requires commitment, but the look really pays off.
To achieve this Viking plait:
Grab the section of the beard you want to braid and separate into three smaller sections.
Lift each section onto the far left, then place over the middle section, nestling it into the centre position of your beard plait.
Repeat this process, alternating from left to right until your Viking braid pattern has formed.
Tie the end with a small hair band to keep your Viking plait in place.
It might seem tricky at first, but with a bit of practice, braided Viking beard styles will soon be second nature.
Tip 8: Decorate your beard with accessories like Viking beard beads and rings
As mentioned above, Vikings took serious care of their beard. It wasn't just limited to washing and combing their beards, they also styled their beards beautifully before going into battle.
Viking beard jewellery was considered a symbol of pride and masculinity. Those with long Viking beards would embellish them with beard beads and beard rings, and today’s Viking beard styles regularly show off these beard decorations.
If you’re keen on using them, beard beads are easy to try, as long as your beard is long enough. Simply thread a length of hair through the centre of the beard ring and slide it up to the desired place in your beard. Make sure to have enough hair inside your beard bead to prevent it from sliding down. Once you have learned how to put beard beads on, you can wear them in style – just as the Vikings did.
Some Viking beard styles you can explore
Now that you know how to grow a Viking beard, we’re sure you would want to know about some styles that can make your Viking look even more classy. So, here are top five Viking beard styles that you may want to try:
Bare Viking look:
Most common Viking beard that begins from sideburns and is long on the chin. The hair on the cheeks is shorter.
Tapered V look:
In this Viking style beard, the beard is shaped in ‘V’, denoting Viking. It tapers down with a pointy end.
Intense Viking look:
This look features a square-shaped beard with the length being equal throughout.
Beard pony look:
Remember Game of Thrones? This style is for those with long Viking beard that isn’t long enough to be tied in a braid.
Double-braided look:
If you want to go a mile extra of boldness, then you can give this one a try. All you need to do is make two braids instead of one and secure it with a hairband.
Takeaway
It is definite that Viking beards require additional effort, care and time. But the final results of your stylish look make it all worth it. The key here is to choose the right beard trimmer and use products specifically made for beard. Groom your beard from time to time and you should be sorted!
FAQs
How long should my Viking beard be before braiding?
Your Viking beard needs to be at least four to five inches long before you can start braiding it.
How to put beads on my Viking style beard?
You simply need to put a strand of your beard hair in the bead and slide the bead up till the desired length.
How to grow a Viking beard with a perfect shape?
The key to getting a perfectly thick Viking style beard is to trim from time to time and keep the beard clean and tidy. Once the beard grows long enough, you can use the Braun all-in-one beard trimmer MGK7221 to give it the desired shape.