When I think of No Shave November, images of hairy lumberjacks and free-spirited hippie women pop into my mind. Whether these stereotypes hold true or not, avid participation in No Shave November is certainly not a figment of my imagination.
Over the past few years, this event has steadily grown in popularity especially with high school and college students. The goal is to not shave for the entire month of November. At the end of the month, friends compare each other’s mustaches and beards to see who grew out the the most gnarly facial hair. It can either be a competition on how creative the style of mustache is or perhaps on how full the beard is.
The movement began in 2004 with the Movember Foundation. A combination of the words “mustache” and “November,” men attempt to grow out gnarly mustaches and beards to raise men’s health awareness concerning prostate cancer, testicular cancer, depression and other health issues.
The varsity men’s lacrosse team participated in No Shave November last year and will do so again this year. Most of them tend to go for the mustache look.
“We can collect pledges for growing them for the whole month. It’s kind of an incentive to keep growing it when you think you look ridiculous,” sophomore lacrosse player Mike Tyrrell said. “We do it so we can raise money for prostate and testicular cancer research.”
Although, this year they’re taking it to the next level to support the cause that much more. They are going to try to sell Movember T-shirts to raise money for the campaign.
The lacrosse team also enjoys the competition aspect just to see which of them can develop the coolest and most unique mustaches.
“Everybody is usually pretty entertained by the strange styles and by the guys who can only grow about 6 hairs on their upper lip,” Tyrrell said.
No Shave November is not just for men. Many women participate every year, as well. Instead of challenging their friends to who can grow the most full-out beard without any patchy spots, they judge each other based on length and thickness of leg hair.
Some people find it somewhat repulsive if girls participate in No Shave November, but some girls find it liberating. Also, it’s less of a responsibility because shaving legs takes so much time and effort. In the winter, girls wear leggings, jeans and pants most of the time anyway.
“I hate shaving so I wouldn’t mind doing it [No Shave November.] It’s so pointless. It takes like 20 minutes of your time, and it’s thicker if you shave it so you’re better off not shaving it,” Lexi Holland said, a junior elementary education major..
More and more girls have started to take interest in No Shave November not for the competition aspect but just to simply take a break from shaving. Whether you decide to partake in No Shave November to justify being hygienically lazy or to prove to your friends that you can, in fact, grow a beard in order to prove your manliness, have fun with it. Movember promotes a good cause, and No Shave November in general is freedom of expression. Happy no shaving, ‘Merica.
Natalie Hicks can be reached at natalie.hicks@theminaretonline.com.