Dreadlocks were seen as both fashionable and functional by the Vikings. The men who spent much of their time in battle and traveling needed to keep their long hair from getting in the way during their raids. Once the dreads were made, they did not require much maintenance.
That said, many cultures Vikings interacted with did keep written records, which is how we know today that Vikings did indeed wear their hair in dreadlocks.
The first known examples of the hairstyle date back to ancient Egypt, where dreadlocks appeared on Egyptian artifacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with dreadlocks have even been recovered from archaeological sites.
Historians and anthropologists have found evidence of the 'do in ancient Egypt, Germanic tribes, Vikings, Pacific Islanders, early Christians, the Aborigines and the New Guineans as well as the Somali, the Galla, the Maasai, the Ashanti and the Fulani tribes of Africa.
Some of the earliest depictions of dreadlocks date back as far as 1600–1500 BCE in the Minoan Civilization, one of Europe's earliest civilizations, centred in Crete (now part of Greece).
Dreadlocks and many braided hairstyles were made popular by African descendents, especially in the US and the UK, but the history of humanity is a history of cultural exchange. For example, the act of smoking ganja in the Rastafari Movement comes from the Indian slaves that were brought to the Caribbean.
The Vikings' neighbours, the Celts had their own version of dreadlocks which they called “elflocks”, so the Vikings may well have shared this name, although there's no written record of what the Vikings would have called dreadlocks.
Viking warriors usually wore long braids or dreadlocks to make them more intimidating to their enemies in battle – or perhaps, more simply, for the practical purpose or keeping their hair out of their eyes while fighting!
Improper care: If you don't wash and maintain your dreads properly, you can get a buildup of dirt and debris, causing your dreadlocks to emit an unpleasant odor.
Dreadlocks are perceived as a connection to wisdom, and many believe that the head and hair are spiritual energy conductors. According to the Rasta views, the locs are believed to be a part of the Nazarite vows of Leviticus, which cautioned against shaving the head's four corners.
To wrap up the locs vs. dreadlocks debate, the most important difference is their unique origin and history. Locs are often more defined with a distinguished root structure, while dreads don't part on the scalp and have more of a dry, matted look.
ASIAN DREADLOCKS
Today dreadlocks are not often associated with Asian territories; however, the hairstyle arguably also has historical roots in different parts of Asia.
Once about a month has passed, you are free to wash your dreads as needed. Most people with dreadlocks wash their hair only two or three times per month because the hairstyle simply doesn't require as much upkeep. It's important to use all-natural shampoo and pat dry to avoid pulling hairs out of the locks.
There is no historical account of the “first” Black Viking. But it is widely known that in the time of the Vikings, other cultures were also traveling and exploring. Historians believe that many dark-skinned people came to Scandinavia voluntarily, and assimilated into the culture willingly.
As we have seen from the (very limited) written accounts and the few period artifacts we have to pull from, Viking hair styles varied from short hair to long braided hair, and sometimes included shaved on the side and possibly even bangs over their eyes.
They may have had a reputation for trade, braids and fearsome raids, but the Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians.
Do Dreadlocks Ruin Your Hair? All in all, dreadlocks, like all protective styles, help protect your hair from environmental stressors. The only way locs styles will ruin hair, is if you don't dry them properly or retwist them too often.
One common myth about dreadlocks is that they are dirty. But dreadlocks — like any hair — are clean if properly washed and maintained. In fact, many people with dreadlocks keep their locs exceptionally clean because clean hair knots faster and better than dirty hair.
Extremely long and thick dreadlocks can become a heavy strain on your roots, causing broken root follicles or hair loss. You may need to trim your heavy and thick dreadlocks from time to time to mitigate this problem.
According to scholars, Vikings commonly washed their hair and beards using a soap containing lye. This soap served two purposes. It helped to keep Vikings clean and wash away the dirt, blood, and other messes which built up during escapades. However, it also helped to dye the hair a brighter shade of blonde.
Did Vikings braid their hair? It is uncertain whether Vikings wore braided hair, but it seems likely. In particular, there is evidence of early cultures that practiced a form of hair braiding in the Scandinavian region, but whether those traditions survived to the Viking Age is unknown.
“From picture sources we know that the Vikings had well-groomed beards and hair. The men had long fringes and short hair on the back of the head," she says, adding that the beard could be short or long, but it was always well-groomed. Further down on the neck, the skin was shaved.
These rope-like strands of hair, created by braiding or locking hair, were worn by people of distinct origins around the world, including the Vikings. Both Norse men and women had unique ways of growing their hair and styling them into dreadlocks.
Rastafarians can often be recognised from the way they style their hair. Rastafarians grow their hair long, before coiling it into dreadlocks. The wearing of hair in dreadlocks by Rastafarians is believed to be spiritual; this is justified in the Bible: They shall not make baldness upon their head.
The first time the dreadlock hairstyle was seen was ancient Egypt, where dreadlocks appeared on Egyptian artifacts. One of the oldest and most well- recorded ancient civilizations (3100bc) ancient Egyptians are seen in innumerable statues, sculptures, and bas-reliefs wearing dreadlocks and dreaded or plaited wigs.