The allure of the bearded Vikings
Hilmarsson says that the Vikings took great care and pride in their beards. Photo: Mbl.is
Beards have been the hottest accessory for an Icelandic man for a couple of years now, since the trend of the hipster lumbersexual hit the country. Maybe a beard also resonates well with our Viking roots and now two Icelanders are developing a range of special beard products based on those Viking traditions.
"It's a complete myth that the Vikings were unkempt barbarians," explains Sindri Þór Hilmarsson, who has developed a beard care range along with Óðinn Löwe. Named Víkingr Skeggvörur, the range contains products such as beard oil and beard wax which will be hitting shops this month.
Hilmarsson says that all the products are made using nordic ingredients, including rape seed oil from Þorvaldseyri and the scent of pine, rosemary and hops. Ten percent of all sales go to the Icelandic cancer society as a part of Moustache March.
Both Hilmarsson and Löwe sport serious beards and point out that they can induce a few problems such as dry, itchy or flaky skin. "A beard protects our skin and keeps our face warm but instead, it needs a lot of upkeep. " Hilmarsson adds that archeological excavations have revealed that Viking took pride in their beards which they often plaited or decorated.
Visitors to Reykjavík will have noted that beards are very fashionable in Iceland. See our guide below to how to look like a Reykjavik hipster.
