Who wouldn’t want to dress like a Viking? These Norsemen of the Middle Ages typically wore cloaks, tunics, trousers, strap dresses, and other outfits made of wool and flax. Cast members of History Channel’s historical drama, Vikings, captured the right costuming feel, right down to their hairstyles. To remain as historically accurate as possible, the show features authentic Viking hairstyles for both male and female characters.
Every character on the show wears their hair differently. Some wear long braids (a hairstyle associated with Vikings), ponytail hairstyles for casual settings, loose curls, etc. The hairstyles match the characters’ personalities and social rankings, and they’re appropriate for the intense action on the show. However, some are better than others. Take a look at these hairstyles, ranked from least to most impressive.
Torvi's Loose Curls
Sometimes, the simplest hairstyle can still be elegant and gorgeous. For example, Torvi (Georgia Hirst) styles her hair in loose curls that are tied together in the back of her head when she's not going into battle. This hairstyle is best for those who (like Torvi) have naturally curly or wavy hair. Of course, this gentler style does shift into a tighter, more practical look when fighting.
In addition, Torvi gains more power as the show progresses. Her hairstyle demonstrates this new power by adding strands of hair braided on the side and another strand on top of her head, twisted differently than the other braids. This is a noticeable detail that says a lot about her growth.
Bjorn's Youthful Buzz
It can be difficult to style men’s hair in a unique way, but Vikings knows how to have impressive male hairstyles. Bjorn Lothbrok (Alexander Ludwig) has one of the more casual, laidback hairdos on the show in the earlier seasons. The hair is buzzed on the back, and cut short on the top and front of his head.
This hairstyle fits Bjorn's personality. He wants to be a warrior and he's ready for battle. His short, buzzed hair is out of his face for when he's ready to be fierce - but of course, he only starts growing it into a braid when he starts fighting.
Bjorn's Early Braids
Bjorn may have looked good with his buzzed haircut, but he looks even better once he starts growing out his hair - which seems to be connected to his situation and age. Initially, he grows it long enough for a small ponytail, but once his hair is long enough, he ties it back over his head in a long single braid. His hair is just the right length (not too long but not too short) for this look.
The back of his head is still buzzed, which helps prevent him from sweating too much. He's growing up, and it was time for him to change his hair to match his maturity, new experiences, and leadership qualities.
Ragnar's Classic Viking Braids
Vikings has proven that there are numerous ways to wear braids. However, the most prevalent is the classic Viking braid. Vikings wore braids to keep their long hair contained during battles. Frequently featured on the show, Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) also has long hair, which he pulls back into a single tight braid.
This hairstyle is practical for Vikings, and it's appropriate for Ragnar, the King of Kattegat. As a fierce warrior, he's always in battles. By wearing a braid, his hair is out of his face and it doesn’t require much effort to style every day.
Torvi's High Ponytail
Torvi’s hairstyle is iconic on the show, and changes depending on what she is doing. For example, Torvi sometimes wears her hair in a high ponytail hairstyle, practical for travel and battle.
Studying the look, Torvi has two Dutch braids (another popular hairstyle on the show) on top of her head leading up to the ponytail. This turns into braids that flow into her free, loose hair. The two braids make the ponytail look new and elaborate, even though it’s still casual. With this hairstyle, Torvi’s hair is out of her face, which is helpful when she's fiercely prepared for attacks during the show's intense battle scenes.
Hvitserk's Messy Braids
Many of the characters on Vikings change their hairstyles throughout the show’s six seasons. However, Hvitserk (Marco Ilso) didn’t change his hairstyle very often during the show’s run. He's a strong Viking warrior, but he struggles to find his place in the world, often doesn't know where his loyalty should lie, and later his story arc takes him into drug and alcohol addiction.
Reflective of his own personal confusion in life, his braids are messy and disorganized. It reflects the classic Viking styles, but without the kind of careful care that others devote to their hair.
Ivar's Twirled Braids
Ivar (James Quinn Markey) is always a bit different, and this is reflected in his hairstyle - which is similar to the classic Viking style, but with a (literal) twist. The braids are twisted and tightly pulled back from his face. It would be intricate work to fix his hair every day, but it’s worth it to achieve this hairstyle.
Ivar wants to look like a king and with this hairstyle, he definitely manages it - but he also stands out, something that is vitally important for him to do. This is also a very practical style for the fighting that he does, and the times where he is seen with looser hair are almost always when he is struggling.
Lagertha's Half Braids
Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) frequently wears her long hair loose down her back, with the front half tied away from her face in a series of smaller Dutch braids. She does wear other variants, but most of the time, this is how she looks - although she is more than capable of wearing other styles to fit in at different courts.
This hairstyle matches Lagertha’s wild, free spirit and makes her look fierce and powerful. It's a style that reflects her mixed character - a powerful Queen who is capable of ruling and of being powerfully feminine, and at the same time, the most legendary shieldmaiden in Norway.
Thorunn's Loop Braids
Every hairstyle is important on Vikings, but perhaps the most impressive hairdo is Thorunn’s (Gaia Weiss) circular braids on the side. Just one half of her head is buzzed, and the other half is elaborately braided. The braids are curled and twisted in different shapes, looking like circles and arches on top of her head.
This is the most unique hairstyle on the show. And as a former enslaved woman, she's a fighter who eventually becomes a Shield-Maiden. In her marriage to Bjorn, she wants to be respected for her strength and warrior pride, not just for her looks. However, her hairstyle is a creative aspect of her character.