Viking Beard Braid: Epic Styles & How to Braid Your Beard

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Barber and men's grooming content creator Jacob Joseph explains how to get the iconic Viking beard look

Co-authored by Jacob Joseph and Devin McSween

Last Updated: January 14, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Beard Braid Styles
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• How to Braid Your Beard
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• How long does your beard need to be?
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• What is a Viking beard braid?
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• How to Grow a Viking Beard
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• Video

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The Vikings were seafaring warriors who were renowned for their strength, might, and long braided beards. If you want to get a braided beard look that’s fit for a Viking, we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll go over the most popular Viking beard braid styles today and how to braid your beard. Plus, we talked to barbers, facial hair experts, and cosmetologists to learn how long your facial hair needs to be to braid it, and how to grow out your beard.

How to Braid Your Beard Like a Viking

Barber and men's grooming content creator Jacob Joseph suggests growing out your beard for at least 1 year to braid it into a long Viking braid. Opt for a single, double, or triple braid in a traditional 3-strand plait, or go with a unique fishtail braid. Then, add a Viking bead onto each braid.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Types of Viking Beard Braids

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   Single braid The single Viking bread is one of the most popular styles. Gather all of the hair along your chin and jawline and create a traditional 3-strand braid down your entire beard. For a subtler style, take a small section from the front of your facial hair and braid it, leaving the rest of your beard unbraided.

   • Styling tip: Add 1 or 2 Viking beads to your braid to really achieve the Viking look. These beads are traditionally silver and engraved with runes, knotted patterns, and other Norse designs. Don’t worry—we’ll explain how to put them on after you braid your beard in the section below.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Jacob Joseph is a professional barber and men's grooming content creator. He helps men master their beard and hair grooming abilities.

   Sarah Kosakowski is a professional hair stylist and owner of Alba Salon and Spa with over 10 years of experience.

   Mark LoBiondo is a licensed cosmetologist and owner of Markdaniel Barbershop with over 9 years of experience.

   Juan Sabino is a professional barber and owner of Juan's Barber Shop with over 20 years of grooming experience.

   Marlon Rivas is a facial hair specialist and owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming with over 15 years of experience.
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   Double braid The double Viking braid refers to adding 2 plaits down your beard. Traditionally, this involves taking 2 small sections that line up with the ends of your mustache and braiding them down, while leaving the rest of your beard unbraided. However, dividing your entire beard into 2 sections and braiding each one is a popular look, too!
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   Triple braid With the triple Viking braid, you add 3 plaits to your facial hair. Usually, this involves separating your entire beard into 3 equal sections and braiding each one. Or, separate out 3 small sections for the braids and leave the rest of your beard unbraided.

   • For instance, braid 2 small sections that line up with the ends of your mustache, and then braid another small section in the center of your chin.
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   Fishtail braid The fishtail Viking braid is an alternative to the traditional plait, giving your facial hair a unique twist. Feel free to braid your entire beard or a small section into a single fishtail braid, or create 2 or more fishtail braids throughout your facial hair.

   • Professional hair stylist Sarah Kosakowski explains how to do a fishtail braid: Split your hair into 2 equal sections. Then, “starting with the right section, take a small amount of hair from the outermost part of the section, move it over the top of the hair, and add it to the left section. Repeat the same process on the left section, moving a small outermost piece of hair over the top of the section and adding it to the right section.” Keep repeating the process until you get to the end of your hair.
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   Multiple braids You don’t have to stop at 3 braids if you don’t want to! For instance, braid the facial hair along the left and right sides of your jawline, and then add 2 braids along the center of your chin. Or, keep the majority of your beard unbraided and add several mini braids along your jawline and chin.
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   Gathered braids With this style, you gather multiple braids and tie them together. This is typically easier if your facial hair is fairly long. Simply add 2 or more braids to your beard, whether you braid your entire beard or small sections. Then, pull the braids together and secure them with a hair tie.

   • If you have 3 braids, braid the braids together for a full and complex-looking braid.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Braid Your Beard

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1. 
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   Wash and condition your beard, and apply some beard oil. Prep your beard by giving it a good wash with some beard shampoo. Add some beard conditioner, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it out so your hair stays moisturized. While your beard is slightly damp, run beard oil or balm through your facial hair to keep it feeling soft.
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   Comb your beard. Use a brush or comb to detangle your facial hair and smooth out your beard. Specifically, licensed cosmetologist Mark LoBiondo recommends using a detangler brush or boar bristle brush. This makes your beard more manageable and easier to braid and style.
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   Section out the hair you want to braid and separate it into 3 sections. Grab a section of hair that you want to braid, whether that’s your entire beard or a small portion. Then, comb and smooth down your hair again, and separate the section into 3 equal pieces.
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   Cross the left and right sections over the middle section to start the braid. Starting with the left section of your facial hair, bring it over the middle section. The left section is now the new middle section, and the old middle section is now the left section. Then, take the right section of hair and cross it over the new middle section of hair. You’ve completed your first braid!

   • Note: If you’re having a tough time braiding your beard, Joseph recommends visiting a barber or hairstylist to get your hair braided by a professional.
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   Keep crossing the left and right sections over the middle until you get to the end. Grab the left section of your hair again and cross it over the middle section. Then, take the right section of hair and bring it over the new middle section. Just keep repeating this process until you get to the end of your beard.

   • Adjust the tension of your braiding depending on the look you want. If you want a relaxed-looking braid, keep your grip loose as you weave your hair. If you want a tight and precise-looking braid, pull your hair tight as you braid.
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   Secure the end of the braid with a hair tie. Pinch the end of the braid with your fingers. Then, grab a mini hair tie and wrap it around the end of the braid. If you have a long beard or a lot of thick hair, you may need to use a regular-sized hair tie.
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   Add beads or rings to the braid. To complete the Viking look, loop a few Viking beads onto your braid. Grab a bead threader and slide the bead over the loop of the tool. Then, place your braid through the loop of the threader. Slide the bead up the threader until it meets your hair. Simply pull on the end of the threader to slide the bead onto your braid. Move the bead up or down until it’s in a position you like.

   • Place the bead wherever you like. Lots of people place it over the hair tie to conceal it, center it along the middle of their braid, or place it at the top or bottom of the braid.
   • If you have a small braid, you may just want to add 1 bead. Longer braids can typically handle multiple beads—add 2 or more to make your braid really stand out!
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Section 3 of 5:

How long does your beard need to be to braid it?

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1. 
   Your beard needs to be at least 4 inches (10 cm), but the longer it is, the better. Once your beard is around 3 to 4 inches (7.6-10 cm) long, you should be able to weave it into a small braid. However, Joseph notes that if you want the traditional Viking look, you need a lot more length. He suggests growing your beard for at least 1 year, without trimming or lining it up, to get all the length and thickness you need to braid it.

Section 4 of 5:

What is a Viking beard braid?

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1. 
   The Viking beard braid is a braided beard style associated with Vikings. The Vikings were a group of seafaring Scandinavian warriors who colonized areas of Europe throughout the 9th and 11th centuries. All Vikings were well known for their grooming habits and hygiene, with the men especially known for their long hair and beards. It’s thought that men braided their beards to keep them out of the way during battle. Plus, they may have been a way to honor their culture and gods, signal their rank, and connect with one another.
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Section 5 of 5:

Expert Tips for Growing a Viking Beard

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1. 1
   Cleanse and moisturize your skin. According to professional barber Juan Sabino, “healthy hair comes from healthy skin follicles.” He says, “You have to really pay attention to skin care…because healthy hair follicles grow out of healthy skin.” So, he recommends that you keep your skin clean and moisturize it well.
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   Wash your beard once per week. Keeping your beard nice and clean helps it grow in healthily. Simply use a beard shampoo to remove any dirt, oil, and other debris. LoBiondo says you only have to do this once per week.
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   Apply conditioner and beard oil to your beard. Ensuring your facial hair is well moisturized helps keep it healthy. After you wash your beard, apply a conditioner to hydrate the strands. Then, add a bit of beard oil while your hair’s still damp for extra moisture, softness, and shine. Feel free to apply beard oil daily, or whenever your beard looks and feels dry.

   • Sabino says, “You have to make sure that your beard hair is conditioned.” He notes that your beard hair is just like the hair on your head: “You can shampoo, and it will look super dry, but if you put a little conditioner and a little oil on there, it'll look ten times better.”
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   Wait to trim and shape your beard until it reaches your desired length. LoBiondo says, “Don’t get it trimmed or shaped until it grows longer than you want it.” While some people say trimming your beard helps it grow fuller, this is just a myth. If you want your beard to grow long, simply let it grow! Trimming it will just extend the growth process.

   • If you’re growing out your beard from a fresh shave, facial hair specialist Marlon Rivas says to let it grow out for at least 1 month before you decide to shave it again or keep growing.
   • Rivas explains that hair grows in a 4-week cycle: “As some hairs grow back after a clean shave…you'll get that five o'clock shadow. And then those will grow within a week, and then you'll notice some patchy spots. Those will fill in in about two weeks. And then the last phase of growth occurs about four weeks into the growth cycle.”
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