History Main / BraidsOfBarbarism

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the nords are big on their braids. It's not uncommon to see men sporting them.
** They like braids so much, braid styles can be seen in their Hold symbols.

Compare WildHair and DreadlockWarrior.

[[caption-width-right:350:We shall pillage and plunder...then braid each others hair while painting our nails!]]

** There's also [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=29947 Braids, Cabal Minion.]] Though whether she's barbaric or just borderline psychopathic is up for some debate...

* Vikings and other Germanic varieties of...well, barbarian.

* In the ''Shards of Alara'' block of ''MagicTheGathering'', the human warriors of Jund wear a braid for each major victory in battle. The legendary [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=174876 Kresh the Bloodbraided]] is renowned for possessing the most braids.

* ''Series/HorribleHistories'''s portrayal of Gaulish leader [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h214xRwk7j8 Vercingetorix]] wears his braids in a way that somehow manages to be at once {{Badass}} and {{Camp}}. "So deadly, he could wear pigtails and still look hard!"

* [[NobleSavage Venn]] men in ''Literature/TheWolfhound'' wore their long hair (and [[BadassBeard beards]]) in braids, usually woven top-to-bottom, and [[OhCrap woe unto you]] if a Venn warrior (especially [[MemeticBadass Wolfhound himself]]) decided to [[SignificantHaircut rebraid his hair bottom-to-top]] due to your action.

* In ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', the Dothraki men wear their hair in long braids, usually decorated with bells. The braid is cut when the warrior loses a battle. Notably, Khal Drogo's braid has ''never'' been cut. [[spoiler:Even when he dies from an infected wound, he still WON the fight where he received it.]]
* This trope is played with in the {{Deryni}} works:

** There's also [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=29947 Braids, Cabal Minion]]. Though whether she's barbaric or just borderline psychopathic is up for some debate...

* There's a variation in ''ElfQuest'' where Clearbrook's long hair is braided by her lifemate One-Eye. After rescuing her from the Gliders' captivity he is horrified to find that they have bound her hair up, and painstakingly re-braids it. When One-Eye dies she cuts off her braid and lays it upon his body. Ironically, it's only during this period, when she is driven by revenge, that she really acts like a warrior. Later on she bonds with Treestump, and once her hair has grown back he braids it again.

* Subtly implied in ''[[NintendoWars Advance Wars Days Of Ruin]]'', the Lazurius [=COs=] have a strand of hair with several beads on it.

While professional armies today and even going back to ancient times prefer a short haircut for practical reasons, less organized and regimented warriors often preferred long hair, generally in a braided style. This is especially common on the ProudWarriorRaceGuy, the kind of barbarian to wear a BeardOfBarbarism and BarbarianLonghair, and the BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins Native American or his FantasyCounterpartCulture equivalent.

* ''Webcomic/ScandinaviaAndTheWorld'', [[http://satwcomic.com/trans-fear unsurprisingly.]]

* ''DarkSoulsII'': King Vendrick sports these, along with a BadassBeard. These (along with the fact that [[DeathWorld Dranleic, his kingdom, went to hell after a war with the Giants]]) [[BloodKnight paint a]] [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy clear picture]] of what [[KingmakerScenario you're up against]]. [[spoiler: ...and then you find out [[TheReveal a whole lot of things that turn your previous assumptions on their heads]]. Despite the [[DarkIsNotEvil barbaric appearance]], Vendrick was [[TheGoodKing a well-spoken, kindly man]] left with an [[YouCantFightFate unwinnable situation]] who learned [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone far too late]] that he'd taken some terrible advice from [[TheVamp his wife]] and [[MadScientist brother]].]]

* In ''HowToTrainYourDragon'', the rude, crude and bellicose Vikings seem to love braiding their hair and beards. In the sequel, even [[GadgeteerGenius Hiccup]] is sporting some in his hair - although it seems they're something his girlfriend Astrid likes to do when they talk, rather than a deliberate decision by him.

* Some of the dwarves in Peter Jackson's adaption of ''[[TheHobbitFilmTrilogy The Hobbit'']] have braided their beards in various different styles.

* In the ''Literature/{{Hurog}}'' duology, one single braid is the traditional male hairstyle of Shavig, the northern country in which castle Hurog is located. Ward mentions that it's considered a bit old-fashioned, as most men wear their hair short like it's done at the court of the high king, but still unremarkable enough that no one would say anything about a middle aged man wearing his hair in that style. While the people are shown to be pretty civilised, it is often mentioned that their ancestors were viking-style barbarians, and they still have the reputation.

* Not really braids, but Kenpachi the resident BloodKnight in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' does his hair in very long points, each one having a bell at the tip. Not because RealMenWearPink, it's so his enemies can hear him coming and be ready to fight.

* In ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', the Dothraki men wear their hair in long braids, usually decorated with bells. The braid is cut when the warrior loses a battle. Notably, Khal Drogo's braid has ''never'' been cut [[spoiler" even when he dies from an infected wound, he still WON the fight where he received it]]

* In ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', the Dothraki men wear their hair in long braids, usually decorated with bells. The braid is cut when the warrior loses a battle.