Flow

Flow is a term for long, flowing hair, popular among hockey players.

Hockey flow defined by urban dictionary as “long, untamed hair usually capped with a hat with wings of hair flowing and curling up from under it. This hair flows easily out of hockey helmets and is becoming popular throughout hockey players everywhere”. Represented by the sports greatest heroes, icons, and legends, flow is something that almost every respectable hockey player strives to acquire. Although the long hair is usually accompanied by a long scruffy beard (or thin chinstrap for those in the early years of juniors) and is most prevalent during the playoffs, those who deem worthy can rep the style during the entirety of the season.

Let’s take a look at the history of flow and its major contribution to the spirit and growth of hockey. Sometime in the middle-ages, Hockey, although much less organized and lacking the fundamentals: i.e. rules, was first seen in Scandinavia. Un-Coincidentally, the Vikings, present in these parts, are known for their long luscious blond hair (think Thor). Hundred of years later with the establishment of the NHL in 1917, hockey flow began to be defined “by hair a few inches long, above the ears, and with massive side and middle parts”. However, this was just the beginning.

The 1960’s and 70’s brought creativity, individualism, and experimentation. These characteristics were certainly not prevented from leaking into the world of hockey. Some of hockey’s greats, like Phil Esposito, Ron Duguay, Bob Nystrom, and Guy Lafleur set the expectations for hockey players to come.

However, at the turn of the 80’s hockey flow appeared to be approaching its last days. The mandatory equipment rules (including the use of a helmet) indicated the end of the  God-like hair that appeared on the top of our favorite players heads. With these terrible new regulations that not only made the game less interesting to watch, also took away from the creativity of the players making it so a way around these rules absolutely necessary.

Instead of the hairstyles being present on top of the head, “flow now looked like an extension of the helmet and, in some cases, of the jersey”. The 90’s was the true transition to present day hockey hair. This new decade brought the mullet! Jaromir Jagr, considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time, is equally revered for popularizing one of the greatest hairstyles ever. This curly black hair pouring out of his helmet, indistinguishable from a lion’s mane, is the icing on hundreds of his goals earning him an inevitable spot in the hockey hall of fame.