Best Viking Beard Styles: How To Grow & Style Your Own?

A Viking beard is a full, usually long beard worn rugged and often braided, inspired by the Norse warriors of the Viking Age. The most popular Viking beard styles are the long Viking beard, the double braid, the single braid, the forked or pointy beard and the wild, unruly warrior beard, and shorter versions work if you are still growing.

How to grow a Viking beard: let it grow untrimmed for the first month, keep it clean and moisturized, and shape it lightly as it fills in. A short Viking style beard is possible within a couple of months, while a braid-ready beard usually takes the better part of a year. Below are 15 Viking beard styles, how to grow one, and how to braid it.

15 Viking Beard Styles at a Glance

• Short Viking beard: scruff with shape, fast to grow.
• Unruly Viking beard: wild, bushy and full, the classic berserker look.
• Red beard Viking: a full beard that leans on Norse heritage.
• Double braided beard: two thick braids, the show-stopper.
• Pointy beard: shaped to one or two points, like a forkbeard.
• Rectangular Viking beard: long and squared off at the bottom.
• Long Viking beard: the full statement, braids optional.
• Single braid beard: one braid down the center of a long beard.
• Handlebar mustache beard: a Viking beard topped with a curled mustache.
• Beard pony: tied sections for beards too short to braid.
• Medium Viking beard: enough length to style, short enough to manage.
• Rounded Viking beard: a clean, polished curve.
• Straightened Viking beard: sleek and smooth.
• Square Viking beard: a squared jaw effect.
• Curled Viking beard: natural or styled curls.

What Is The History of the Viking Beard?

Hair and beards mattered to the Norse. The Old Norse poems preserved in the Codex Regius describe their gods with beards, including Thor, whose beard shakes with his anger.

Norsemen took pride in their facial hair and kept it neat. Combs made of bone and antler are among the most common finds from the Viking Age, and tweezers and ear picks turn up alongside them. A modern bearded Viking can build the same routine with a Beard Struggle beard kit, a complete set of oil, balm and tools to soften, style and tame your beard.

Beard length came down to personal preference. Braids are as much modern Viking style as recorded history, but they make practical sense: a braid keeps long hair tidy and out of the way.

Some famous Vikings were even known by their beards. The best-known example is Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Denmark and son of Harald Bluetooth, whose beard was most likely split in two.

How to Grow a Viking Beard

Tip 1: Be Patient and Let It Grow

Facial hair grows roughly a third to half an inch a month. That means a short Viking beard in one to two months, a medium Viking beard in around four to six months, and a long, braid-ready beard in about a year. Your genetics, diet and beard care routine all affect how full your beard looks along the way.

Skip the trimmer for the first four weeks or so to let everything fill in. If patchy areas are holding you back, take a look at our patchy beard support kits.

Related read: What Vitamins Help Beard Growth?

Tip 2: Clean Your Beard

Keeping your beard clean is an important part of the process. Use a beard wash every 2 to 3 days. Washing too often strips natural oils and dries out the hair.

Follow up with beard oil and beard balm. They keep your facial hair moisturized, soft and looking its best.

Tip 3: Brush Your Beard With a Beard Comb

Take a tip from the Vikings of old and use a comb or beard brush every day. Brushing your facial hair:

• Helps train your hair to grow in one direction
• Detangles a scraggly beard
• Spreads your beard care products evenly
• Helps you style your hair into your chosen shape
• Helps you comb over patchy spots

Tip 4: Trim From Time to Time to Keep It Neat

Facial hair can look messy mid-growth. The fix is a light trim of your facial hair. Not whole chunks, just enough to keep things neat.

Use a trimmer or a pair of sharp scissors to clear stray hairs. This sets a general shape for your new beard and keeps it from looking unkempt.

Tip 5: Eat Healthy Foods

What you eat matters for your overall health, and that includes your hair. Your body builds new cells, hormones and hair from the food you give it.

Keep your diet balanced, with a good amount of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Fish, eggs, legumes, vegetables and fruit are all good choices.

15 Best Viking Beard Styles

Short Viking Beards

Not every Viking beard has to be long. As long as you have some scruff going, you are on the right track.

A shorter beard stays out of the way, and plenty of Norse characters on screen wear short beards and still look fierce.

A short beard is easier to maintain and much faster to grow. It is a good choice if you prefer your facial hair shorter, or if you are just starting to grow your beard out.

Unruly Viking Beards

Few looks say raw masculinity like a wild, bushy Viking beard. Balance this natural look with a shorter haircut. Done right, an unruly beard looks effortless without being messy.

This is the warrior beard, fit for the berserkers of old. It is the classic Viking look and proves a full beard can look good without being trimmed within an inch of its life.

Red Beard Viking

Popular culture pictures every Viking as blond, but the picture was more mixed. According to the National Museum of Denmark, genetic research suggests red hair was common among Vikings in western Scandinavia, including Denmark, while blond hair was more common around Stockholm.

No wonder the red beard is a staple Viking look. A full red beard is striking, turns heads and brings an instant link to Norse heritage.

Double Braided Beard

The braided Viking beard is the look most people picture. It is bold, built to stand out, and it keeps long facial hair under control.

This style uses two long, wide braids and needs a generous length of hair. It is not a beginner style, and not every man has the length to pull it off, but it is a guaranteed show-stopper.

Pointy Beard Style

This style is popular in one form or another. Shape your facial hair so it comes to one or two points at the bottom. You can get the pointy and fork beard styles with careful trimming, a styling product with good hold, or both.

A pointy Viking beard style defines your features and always looks sharp. It is a sure boost to the masculine factor.

Rectangular Viking Beards

This look suits long beards. If you have a bushy beard and want something both elegant and effortless, this might be the one.

A rectangular beard is an impressive sight. It does not take endless time to style, it lengthens your features, and it strikes a balance between natural and refined.

Long Viking Beards

The beard style to end all beard styles. Long Viking beards are jaw-dropping statement looks. They take a lot of patience to grow, but the result is worth every month.

It looks great on its own, and you can add personal touches. Add braids, add beard beads, or keep it raw and natural.

Single Braid Beard

This is the most popular version of the Viking beard braid. It uses a single braid and suits longer beards.

A single braid keeps your facial hair out of the way and stops it tangling. Braided beards are always a head-turning look that combines practicality with impact.

Handlebar Moustache Beard

If you are going for impressive, go all in with a handlebar mustache. With patience, trimming and shaping, you will have a mustache to match your Viking beard.

The handlebar mustache is timeless and complements almost any beard style.

Beard Pony Style

If you like braided beard styles but your hair is not long enough to braid, this style is worth a look.

It is basically a beard ponytail, and it is as versatile as it gets. Tie your beard in several spots for different effects, and add beard beads for flair. It is a fierce look with plenty of personality.

Medium Viking Beards

The medium-length Viking beard suits a lot of men. It shows off your beard while staying short enough to be easy to live with.

A medium beard gives you room to be creative with styling while keeping the effort low and the look neat. It is the best of both worlds.

Rounded Viking Beard Styles

A rounded Viking beard is a sure bet for a polished, clean-cut look. It is striking and professional.

It works at any beard length but needs more regular trimming to hold the shape. Here, that effort is worth it.

Straightened Viking Beard

Straightened beards are gaining popularity. They look sharp and polished and make your facial hair look perfectly kept.

It takes a stricter routine, but a beard straightener gets you there with a fraction of the effort.

Square Viking Beards

This is a beard style that demands respect. It is visually striking and an easy way to get the strong, square jaw effect so many men want.

The square Viking beard is also easy to maintain. Minimal effort and all the gains.

Curled Viking Beard Styles

This beard style is one for the ages. Whether you have natural curls to show off or you curl your beard with styling products, the result is unique.

A curled Viking beard is a statement look with an original take on facial hair. It is a sure way to show your style and personality.

How to Braid a Viking Beard

A Viking beard braid is the signature finish for a long beard. You need enough length for the strands to cross and hold: a few inches at the very least, and closer to 4 inches or more for a braid that looks full. Here is how to do a basic three-strand braid:

• 1. Start clean and dry: wash and fully dry your beard so the braid holds.
• 2. Soften and prep: work in a few drops of beard oil, then a little beard balm for grip and hold.
• 3. Comb it out: comb downward with a beard comb to remove knots.
• 4. Section the hair: take the section you want to braid, usually the chin for a single braid or two sections for a double braid, and split it into three equal strands.
• 5. Braid: cross the right strand over the middle, then the left strand over the new middle. Repeat until you are near the ends.
• 6. Secure it: tie off with a small hair tie, or slide on a beard bead for a Viking finish.

Keep braids snug but not tight, since constant pulling stresses the hair. Take them out at night, comb through and add a little oil before you braid again. For more ideas, see our full guide to braided beard styles.

Style a Beard Worthy of a Viking

Whether you keep your beard short, wild and raw, or sharp and tidy, there is a Viking beard style that speaks to your inner warrior. You can always adapt the look. Add curls, braids or Viking beard beads and make it your own.

Whatever style you choose, the most important part of growing a great Viking beard is looking after it. Keep your beard clean and moisturized, and use products that are kind to your skin and hair.

FAQ

What is a Viking beard?

A Viking beard is a full, rugged beard inspired by Norse warriors. It is usually medium to long and is often braided, forked or decorated with beard beads.

How do you grow a Viking beard?

Let your beard grow without trimming for the first month, wash it every few days, apply beard oil and balm daily, and comb it to train the hair. Once it fills in, trim lightly to keep a shape while it grows longer.

How long does it take to grow a Viking beard?

Facial hair grows about a third to half an inch a month. A short Viking beard takes one to two months, a medium one about four to six months, and a long, braid-ready beard about a year.

Did Vikings really braid their beards?

Vikings cared about their hair and beards, and combs are among the most common Viking Age finds. Exactly how they wore their beards day to day is less certain, so braids are as much modern Viking style as history. Either way, a braid is a practical way to keep a long beard tidy.

How long does a beard need to be to braid?

You need at least a few inches for a small braid to hold, and around 4 inches or more for a full Viking beard braid. Longer hair gives you more crosses and a stronger braid.

What is a warrior beard?

A warrior beard is a long, full and often wild beard worn with braids or beads, like the unruly and braided Viking styles above. It is less about precision and more about presence.

Grow a beard worthy of the longships. Get the oil, balm and tools in one go with a Beard Struggle beard kit, and start building your Viking beard today.