This November, make sure there are plenty of napkins at Thanksgiving dinner for those with their No Shave November beard.
During the month of November, everyone around the world is invited to put their razors away, and let facial and body hair grow wild and free.
“I’m excited to not have to deal with shaving this month,” says Keith Jones, English major at SLCC. “I’m trying it out this year and I think it will be tons of fun.”
Though No Shave November sounds silly, many don’t know that there is more to this event than just letting your hair grow “au natural.”
“I just heard about it through word of mouth,” says Jones. “It wasn’t until I looked it up on the Internet that I actually saw there was a cause behind it.”
One non-profit organization founded in 2009, partners with the American Cancer Association and uses the event to raise cancer awareness.
Starting out with just under 50 participants, the event is now recognized worldwide with over 25,000 likes on the organization’s Facebook page.
The No Shave November organization raises money by asking participants to donate any money that usually would be used for shaving, waxing or depilating in the month of November to the cause. All funds are used toward cancer research, prevention and aid.
For those who want to work as a group, the American Cancer Society has a page where anyone can create a team page that friends, family or co-workers can join and try to reach a personal goal.
Other than the normal event of growing out facial or body hair, the No Shave November organization also has smaller events throughout the month including an “Early-Beard” contest where participants can send in their pictures of the first weeks of their facial hair and enter to win a free t-shirt.
Another organization that has a similar goal this month is Movember. Movember has a similar concept that focuses on men’s health exclusively.
Men are invited to grow a moustache throughout the month of November to raise awareness of prostate cancer and other male cancers.
Men who register for the event are given the name “Mo Bros,” and as they grow their moustache or “Mo,” they ask friends and family to donate to the organization for their efforts.
Women, or “Mo Sistas,” are also encouraged to register and participate by encouraging the men in their lives to grow a “Mo” in November.
Movember started in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 and has grown to be a global event with more than 3 million “Mo Bros” and “Mo Sistas” registered across 21 countries around the world.
In 2012, the organization raised $147 million worldwide, $21 million of that coming just from the U.S.
Though these organizations are a great cause, it isn’t appealing to everyone.
“My girlfriend isn’t thrilled that I’m doing this,” says Jones. “She hates the feel of scruff, so she isn’t excited for me to have a full beard. But in the end, she recognizes it’s for a good cause.”
For more information on No Shave November visit www.no-shavenovember.com
For more information on Movember visit us.movember.com
