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Were the vikings cleaner than the people of Versailles?

Hygiene, baths and beards: the vikings were far from being as dirty as you might think!

Contrary to their reputation as dirty, unkempt warriors, vikings actually took personal hygiene very seriously!

Combs, razors and tweezers discovered during archaeological excavations show that they took care of their hair, beards and overall appearance. Some sources even suggest that they had a weekly bathing routine.

At Versailles, several centuries later, full-body baths were much less common. Personal hygiene relied more on changing clothes, washing certain parts of the body and using perfume.

So, were vikings cleaner than the people of Versailles? In some ways, they certainly knew how to challenge the stereotypes!

Did vikings really comb their hair?

Yes! Numerous combs made from bone, wood and antler have been discovered during archaeological excavations.

Did vikings wash themselves?

Historical sources suggest that vikings washed regularly, with weekly bathing reportedly practised in some Scandinavian communities.

Did they take care of their beards?

Yes. Razors, tweezers and grooming tools show that personal appearance played an important role in their daily lives.

Did the people of Versailles never wash?

That’s a common misconception. They did practise daily personal hygiene, but it relied more on clean clothes, washing certain parts of the body and using perfume than on frequent full-body baths.