Originally, the Human Beard

Because no beard ring can be made without it, a little return in history is necessary.

The beard is considered a secondary sexual character, a sex differentiation trait outside of the reproductive organs, appearing during male puberty. It has been present since the first human beings in prehistoric times. Symbol of masculinity, the beard is at this time completely secondary because of the technological and social advances to be made.

The hair on the chin has existed for a very long time. The wearing of a beard was therefore more or less fashionable and/or imposed according to the various historical traditions and religions, according to criteria specific to each.

According to Civilizations and Religions

The decoration of the beard is therefore traditionally associated with the wearing of it. It is obvious that if the long beard is not present, it will be difficult to put jewelry.

The many human civilizations have therefore had a different treatment of the beard. In ancient Egypt, the aristocrats with power let themselves grow a thin beard during the Old Kingdom. Outside of this period, the beard is perceived as a divine characteristic and sovereignty. This is why pharaohs, kings and queens were represented differently from other humans. They had a symbolic dice horn beard, which was then maintained by cords behind the ears.

In ancient Greece, the many heroes and gods of mythology wear beards. The meaning differs according to the cities and characters. Historical figures such as Socrates or Plato wore it to show their wisdom and virility. In Athens, the philosophers wore the beard as an experiment. The military city of Sparta used it to show its courage.

Still in the military register, the Macedonians of the conqueror Alexander the Great could not have a beard in order not to offer seizure to their opponents during the fight. In the field of war, the Romans also knew something about it. In the first century of the Empire, the beard lost credibility. During the reign of Hadrian, it reappeared to be associated with old age and experience. Under the Severans, it spread to the wealthy Romans.

Like civilizations, religions have also had differences in the treatment of the beard. For Judaism and Christianity, the beard is a subject of discussion. In the communities, the wearing of beards has varied according to time and place. In Islam, it was the prophet Mohammed who encouraged people to grow a beard, to differentiate themselves from polytheists.

What about the Vikings?

 

Here we are at the Vikings! The treatment of the beard among the Vikings is different from other civilizations. If in the previous ones, the hairs at the level of the chin are more or less short, the Viking beards are long. Unlike hair, all Vikings wore a beard.

Present since the dawn of time in man, the beard allows indeed to differentiate an adult from a child. It is with adolescence that the latter will see appearing of the hair on its cheeks.

Viking men had a beard that they could adorn with jewelry. As you know, Nordic warriors and raiders wore a lot of jewels on them. The most famous examples are the necklaces displayed around the neck or the bracelets hung on the wrist. For the beard, it is the pearls which made the law.

Let's digress for a moment to look at the process of making Viking beard beads. These jewels were made by the craftsmen who realized them with a particular attention. The technique consisted in melting a material around a heat-resistant pin. By pouring around it, the smiths managed to obtain a round shape, which they could then decorate.

According to archaeological research, most of the time, these beads were made of glass. Silver, bronze or alloy-based products were also possible. Rarer pieces could probably be obtained using gold or amber.
Unlike rings, these jewels can not be put on the fingers. This is explained by the difference in diameter and length of the beads. These are more elongated than the rings, which prevents it to match the size of a finger.

Viking Beard Beads Meaning in the Society

When a Viking child grew up, he had a long and full beard. This last one was a symbol of strength and virility. Wearing a beard in battle strengthened the warrior's abilities and skills.

The Vikings also saw the beard as a symbol of power and authority. The many Viking kings, such as Björn the Ironheart or Erik the Red, all wore a beard. A way to be more legitimate. In addition, in Norse mythology, many gods were represented with a beard. We can mention Odin or Thor, who are particularly important for the Vikings. When we know the importance of traditions in the Nordic culture, it is not surprising to see them sporting a beautiful beard.

The beard is also a symbol of old age. This word is often associated with a negative vision. But among the Vikings, a long white beard was a symbol of wisdom. Indeed, the elders were respected because of the knowledge accumulated throughout their lives.

How to wear Viking Beard Jewelry

To be able to put Viking Beard Jewelry in your beard, it must be long enough. Indeed, it is impossible to hang something in hairs of a few centimeters. Consequently, like the Vikings, you must have a long beard on your chin. This one must be at least 8 centimeters in order to be able to make, what we call braids of beard. With 15 centimeters, you will have a very long beard. But be careful, this length of hair is obtained with several months of growth.

To put on your beard jewels and show your virility, you can make beard braids. As for the hair there are several techniques. But in the case of viking beard braid beads, the easiest way is to use the most popular braiding method, which is the three-strand method.

To do this, separate your beard into three equal parts, if necessary with a comb. Then cross the right strand over the middle one. The right part has now replaced the middle part. You should then cross the left strand over the middle one. Then repeat the process and finish by tying a knot to hold it all together.

The next step is to attach the bead to the beard. This is a very simple technique that works for beard jewelry larger than 3mm in diameter. Start by taking a piece of nylon thread to make a loop with. Then you have to thread the loop through the bead that you want to be in the middle of your beard. Then take a wick whose thickness is adapted to the loop. This is important because the beard strand will have to pass through the bead twice. Pass the wick through the bead and then pull on the curl. The bead is now in the middle of the beard.

However, the attachment is not finished. For that, you need a small silicone rubber band. You have to make a loop again with the nylon thread and then pass it through this elastic. The wick must then pass through the loop. You must pull to make the rubber band pass. To finish, make it disappear by pushing it into the pearl with a rotating movement of your nails.

Removing the bead is a breeze. Just pull the jewel up and slide the elastic down.

For beads with a diameter of less than 3mm, the principle of putting on and taking off remains the same.

But the Vikings did not use the beard only to show their strength. It was also used for seduction purposes. It is therefore not surprising to find beard jewelry of very good quality. Wearing such an object in a well-trimmed beard reinforced the status even more.

How to Maintain your Beard?

In order to be able to display a quality beard for a long time, you need to know that you have to take good care of your beard. This is even more important when you want to enhance it with beard beads. The Vikings couldn't necessarily do this in their time. The valiant Scandinavian warriors certainly had techniques to have the least inconvenience possible.

The present time allows to have the best maintenance of the beard thanks to multiple tricks. The long beards of Vikings do not have the same maintenance as the other types of beards. The idea here is to strengthen the hairs and cleanse the skin underneath.

Taking care of your beard and making your Viking pearl stand out requires a quick and simple ritual. It involves two words: hydration and nutrition. The first is simply to moisturize the skin. Under the hair, it can quickly dry out and lose elasticity. Moisturizing will allow it to regain its vitality. Nutrition will ensure that your beard looks clean and elegant. When the hair grows, the tip will be deprived of sebum. Nourishing it will help fill this gap.

To maintain your beard in the best way, you must choose the right products. The oil and the balm are those which it is necessary to privilege. The only difference is that the balm has a feature to fix the most rebellious hairs. Finally, brush it with a boar bristle brush, which improves hair growth.

By following these habits, you'll limit dull, dry hair, ensure healthy regrowth and stop itching and pulling as much as possible. Having these discomforts will actually interfere with wearing beard jewelry. It would be a shame not to get the Viking look!