History of York

Judging by the large number of combs such as this found in York, personal grooming played a surprisingly large part in everyday life of Vikings.

A wonderful account by a 12th century writer, John of Wallingford, details the consequences, apparently the incoming Danes...

'...caused much trouble to the natives of the land; for they were wont, after the fashion of their country, to comb their hair every day, to bathe every Saturday, to change their garments often, and set off their persons by many frivolous devices.  In this matter they laid siege to the virtue of the married woman, and persuaded the daughters even of the noble to be their concubines'.