15 Best Medieval Male Hairstyles in 2022

The word ‘medieval’ sparks memories of queens and kings, religious crusades, traveling minstrels and knights, and dragons, all of which are brought to us through today’s fantasy shows.

However, there is so much that we can unpack concerning the middle ages. It was an era rich in culture and history, the relics of which we still adore today.

One of those vestiges which endured the test of time and still resonate with 21st century fashionistas are medieval men’s hairstyles. But how did men style their hair, and how did it look like during this era?

During Medieval times which, according to historians, lasted between the 5th -15th century, significant importance was attached to the hair. For instance, shaving hair was a sign of showing great humility. As such, monks shaved their heads, starting in the middle and left a narrow strip of hair around it.

For noblemen, long hairstyles were a common practice. They let their hair grow out to longer lengths and either styled braids, disconnected undercuts, buns, masculine ponytails, or let the hair flow naturally. Sometimes they parted their hair in the middle.

However, there is one group that revolutionized men’s hairstyling during the middle ages. Though they lived a thousand years ago, Vikings had an unusual preference for hairstyles.

These historic warriors rocked some of the most rugged medieval hairstyles that most men cannot resist today. In fact, you will be astonished to note that most of them are still rocked in modern days.

If you want to change your looks with the most epic hairstyles, then this is where you should start. They say old is gold, and because of this, we have ransacked the internet and collected the best medieval male hairstyles that you can embrace today.

1. Shaved Head and Beard

 

Though most medieval hairstyles featured long locks, some men opted for something which was low maintenance but still kept medium length beard. And for this matter, a long beard was considered manly.

If you want a look like this, head to your barbershop and tell your barber to give you a clean shave. After all, you don’t need an undercut to look edgy with the scalp.

For a perfect finish, keep your beards and allow them to grow as long as they can. While you might want to pair it with short stubble if you need a rugged look, bigger and bushy beard will balance the equation.

2. Nordic Viking Hairstyle

 

Sometimes being a real warrior is all about rocking a hairstyle full of attitude. This is because, without it, you can rock a pompadour or an undercut, but it will not look the same.

Besides, Nordic hairstyles can be short and be paired with facial hair, especially long beards. Not all Nordic warriors rocked long hairstyles.

3. Vintage Scandinavian Hairstyle Paired With Beard

 

When it came to the representation of masculinity and fierceness, this hairstyle symbolized everything.
With clean shaved sides and some short hair on top and tied on the crown, this hairstyle was everything a Nordic warrior wanted to be undefeatable. To make it even more rugged and badass, it was paired with a long beard and mustache.

4. Beard Style

 

In the middle ages, beard meant everything as long as you were a man. In fact, they represented masculinity, and for most men, it was a style.

Beards were kept long and bushy, usually cascading to their bellies. However, growing bushy and long beards to Vikings meant something ridiculous.

Though the reasons are not so clear, some people say that Vikings grew out their bushy beard in order to look masculine and savage so that they could scare their enemies in battle. Well, this look is enough to make your enemy flee in a single glance!

5. Long Mohawk Hairstyle

 

Well, as far as rugged medieval hairstyles, especially those rocked by Viking warriors are concerned, this one could be termed as one of the fiercest hairstyles during those ages.

It is a typical Mohawk, but the locks at the nape of the neck are allowed to fall gracefully on the back.
The hair on the sides is trimmed short, and top hair combed backward. If you need a more refined look, you can style the long locks at the back into braided strands. That way, you will reduce the ruggedness.

6. The Man Bun

 

One of the middle age hairstyles that have endured the test of time, and we can still see it in most streets across the world is the man bun.

Is it because it is a natural look and easy to style? Well, that could be reasons, but apart from that, this hairstyle is ridiculously masculine and adorable.

Besides, the hairstyle can be rocked with any type of hair, whether straight, curly, or wavy. To wear this radical hairstyle, you want to grow your locks out to either long or medium length.

And the best thing comes in styling it. The only tool you need is your hands to pull the locks back and hold them together into a small bun.

While a brush and a comb can be used, you don’t want to lose that authentic and disheveled look that can only be achieved if you use your hands to create the man bun.

7. Man Braid

 

Braids were also very popular hairstyles for men in the medieval era. They gave the wearer a unique and refined look. Man braids are still here with us and are some of the most prevalent hairstyles for men who need to tame their long hair.

As the name suggests, if you want to rock this haircut, you would want to start by growing out your hair long and then create one big braid at the center of your head towards the back. While this is effortlessly achieved on long hair, you can style it if you have a cropped cut, but you will need to use pomade.

8. Long Fishtail

 

Nordic warriors were creative when it came to styling, especially when they were not conquering different villages to loot.
Because farming wasn’t favorable to them given the rugged nature of their land, when they were not fighting, they spend a considerable chunk of time styling their hair as it is depicted by this hairstyle, which is potentially time-consuming.

To rock this look, you need to get a clean shave on the sides, leaving a long strip of hair on top, flowing to the back. To finish the look, braid the long hair into a fishtail and tie it with strings. This look was typically matched with a beard.

9. Long Hair and Beard

 

Almost all medieval hairstyles were long hair. The difference was how the hair was styled. To rock the real long hairstyle, you need to grow out your hair and let it be. No products were needed to maintain the hairstyle, and no styling was needed. Just natural hair.

However, to make this style look tougher and messier, it was paired with a beard. This was the real look of Nordic warriors of those ages. You can also rock this look.

If you have straight locks, you should add salt spray to add texture and make it look a little bit messier.

10. Mohawk

 

Well, if you thought the punks and 15th-century Nordic warriors had nothing in common, then you will be surprised. The two groups rocked Mohawk haircut.
While each group might have worn this haircut in different ways, the hairstyle was the same. The haircut featured shaved sides and an extended strip of hair starting at the front to the nape of the neck.

Just like in the medieval period, when the Mohawk was worn in different ways, today, the hairstyle is worn in a myriad of ways, and this could be the reason why the haircut has been able to stay relevant up to modern days.

It is a great look for you if you can handle the attention that this hairstyle brings.

11. Shaggy Half-Pony

 

Extended and magnificent locks are characteristic of middle ages hairstyles. The rule of thumb when rocking the medieval hairstyles is to keep long, messy, and textured hair.

However, since this is the 21st century and you don’t want to look too ‘Viking,’ you should opt for a half-pony as the best option. Not only does the hairstyle offers you a messy and rough look of the middle age hairstyles, but it is stylish and quite practical.
To style this look, grab half portion of your hair on top and tie with at the crown using an elastic band. This lets the other portion of hair free and fall on your shoulders while keeping the locks off your face.

12. Loose Braid

 

With long locks, you can style different hairstyles by just playing with your hair. So if you have grown out your hair opting to rock one of the middle age hairstyles, you should give a shot to this one.

The loose braid is a wonderful hairstyle that is effortless to style, and you can always change the style easily whenever you want. You don’t have to be worried if this is the first time you are braiding long hair.

The braiding is easy, and the best thing is that you can unbraid it without causing any damage to your hair if the first braiding is imperfect.

13. Medieval Hairstyle for Redheads with Thick Locks

 

This color is commonly associated with traditional Vikings. One thing that we are certain of is that these warriors had fair skin color with blonde locks and light-hued eyes.

As such, we will not be wrong if we conclude that they wore firey long hairstyles and beards. For instance, this fierce long hairstyle featured firey hair with a braided strand on both sides of the head, slightly behind the ears.

A man bun was styled on the crown, and the rest of the hair let to fall on the back and shoulders.

14. Braided Beard

 

Intimidating and, at the same time, stylish, the braided beard was meant for the bravest in the medieval times.
It was typically paired with a short Mohawk or shaven head. Either way, the haircut made its statement. Try this with your long beards today!

15. The Monastic Crown (Tonsure)

 

The practice of shaving hair on the scalp is called tonsure. This act of shaving hair has been linked to several religions throughout history.

Some schools of thought urge that this haircut was popularly worn by the disciples of Jesus, which later was imitated by monks.

Another theory about the monks being the followers of God concerns shaving the heads of male slaves. So, monks shaved their heads voluntarily to show that they were “Christ’s slaves.”

The narrow crown of hair that they cut around their head symbolized the crown of thorns that the soldiers put on the head of Jesus during the crucifixion.

Also referred to as tonsure, this haircut had a historical and religious significance. Religiously, it symbolized devotion to God and the rejection of earthly possessions.

Historically, since hair has been linked with eroticism and sexuality, the hairstyle also ratifies the celibacy vow taken by monks.

It had a great significance that if a monk didn’t wear it, he was thought to have abandoned his role as a monk. In fact, some monks who were found not maintaining the haircut as it was supposed to, they risked losing their clerical state!

We hope you have found your best medieval hairstyle here. Go ahead and request it from your barber and, for the first time, experience what it meant to live during the medieval era.