The Viking Haircut: Shaved Sides, Long Top and Braids
A Viking haircut is a long top worn back, with the sides cut very short or shaved, usually finished with a braid, a tied-back section or a knot down the centre of the head. It is a disconnected style: the sides and the top are not blended into each other. To wear it properly you need at least 15 to 20cm of length on top for a short braid, and more for a braid that runs down the back of the head. The barber’s job is the sides, the back and the shape of the strip on top. The braid itself is styling, which you or someone you trust can learn to do at home.
The look is popular partly because of television and partly because it solves a real problem: it lets a man with thick hair keep length without the weight at the sides.
What makes it a Viking cut rather than an undercut
On paper it is a cousin of the disconnected undercut. The differences are proportion and intent.
- The top section is narrower. On a classic undercut the top covers most of the crown. On a Viking cut the long strip is often narrower, closer to a wide Mohican, so the shaved area wraps further up the sides.
- The length runs further back. The long hair usually continues down the back of the head to the nape or beyond, so it can be braided or tied all the way down.
- It is worn back, not swept over. An undercut is often styled with a parting or a quiff. A Viking cut is pulled straight back and secured.
- A beard is part of the outfit. It is not required, but without one the style can read as sporty rather than rugged.
How long your hair needs to be
This is the most common question we expect to hear, and the honest answer is: longer than most people think. Hair grows at around a centimetre a month for most people, so the timeline is measured in months, not weeks.
| Top length | What you can do with it |
|---|---|
| Under 10cm | Slick it back with a firm product. Reads as a slicked undercut, not yet Viking. |
| 10 to 15cm | A small knot or a half-tie at the crown. Short sections may escape. |
| 15 to 25cm | A single braid from the front hairline to the crown, or a short ponytail. |
| 25cm and beyond | A full-length braid down the back, double braids, or a braid feeding into a tail. |
If you are starting from a short cut, read our guide to growing your hair out without the awkward stage. The trick for this style is to stop cutting the top entirely while keeping the sides tidy, which hides much of the awkwardness.
Briefing your barber on the sides
Every visit with our barbers on Archway Road starts with an assessment: the barber looks at your hair, how it grows and what you want, and makes recommendations before any clipper comes out. For a Viking cut, these are the decisions to settle in that conversation.
How short the sides go
Fully shaved with a razor gives the strongest contrast but needs the most upkeep. A zero or half guard with clippers gives a similar look with a little softness. A one or two leaves visible hair and is easier to grow out later. If you are unsure, the barber can show you each length on the clippers before committing.
How high the shaved section goes
This is the biggest variable. Taking it high, close to the parietal ridge where the head starts to curve, makes the top strip narrow and dramatic. Keeping it lower leaves more hair to braid and reads softer. Ask to see the line marked out before it is cut, because you cannot put it back.
Faded or hard edge
You can fade the sides from skin at the bottom up to a slightly longer length at the line, or keep the sides one length with a crisp edge where the long hair begins. A fade looks more modern. A hard edge looks more traditional and makes the braid stand out.
The back
Decide whether the shaved area continues round the back, leaving just the central strip, or whether the back is left long so the braid sits on a fuller section. Both are valid. The first is bolder.
Braiding it: what is involved
The braid is part of the style, but it is not a barbering service in the usual sense, and you will be doing it most days. A few practical points:
- Start with slightly damp or day-old hair. Freshly washed hair is slippery and the braid loosens within hours. A little texture spray or cream helps it grip.
- Brush the top straight back first. Any sections pointing sideways will escape the braid.
- Begin at the front hairline. A French or Dutch braid, which picks up hair as it travels back, keeps the strip tight to the scalp and looks most like the classic version.
- Keep tension even, not tight. Pulling hard at the hairline every day can strain the hair there. Snug is enough.
- Finish with a small elastic. Fabric-covered bands are kinder to hair than bare rubber bands.
Most men take a couple of weeks of practice before a braid looks neat in a reasonable time. Some keep it simple with a tight ponytail or knot on workdays and braid at weekends.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It works best on thick, straight to wavy hair that holds a braid well. Very fine hair can look sparse once the sides are gone, because the top strip is all you have. Very curly hair can be braided beautifully, but the texture changes how the strip sits, and a barber who works with curls should shape the sides.
Face shape matters less than people think, but a long, narrow face with very high shaved sides can look longer still. Bringing the shaved line down a little balances that. A receding hairline at the temples is not a problem; the style pulls everything back, so the hairline is visible either way.
Consider work, too. A neat, tied-back version can pass in most offices. A shaved, braided strip with tattoos and a long beard is a statement. Neither is wrong, but it helps to decide which you want before the sides come off.
Upkeep
- Sides: every two to three weeks if shaved or faded, three to five weeks if left at a longer guard.
- Top: a light trim of the ends every few months removes split ends without losing length. Our guide to a long hair trim for men covers what to ask for.
- Beard: if you have one, keep the cheek line and neckline defined so the whole look stays intentional.
- Scalp: shaved sides are exposed skin. Moisturise them and use sun protection in summer.
When you book the sides, you can pair it with beard work in the same visit. See what the Highgate Cuts barbers offer on the barber page.
Growing out of it
If you tire of it, the easiest exit is to let the sides grow to two or three centimetres and then have the barber cut the whole head into a longer scissor cut or a classic undercut. The top length gives you plenty of options. Expect two or three months of the sides catching up before it looks fully blended.
Questions we get asked
Can I get a Viking haircut with short hair?
You can get the sides and the shape now, and wear the top slicked back while it grows. The braid needs at least 15cm on top.
Do I need a beard for a Viking haircut?
No, but a beard of some length balances the long top and is what most people picture.
How often should I get the sides cut?
Every two to three weeks for shaved or skin-faded sides; less often if you keep a longer guard.
Can a barber braid my hair?
Braiding is styling rather than a standard barber service. Ask when you book, but plan to learn it yourself for daily wear.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
