Post date: November 1, 2021 | Adventure
No-Shave November – How It Started And What It Means
If you have a beard, chances are that you’ve heard of “no-shave November” before (or, similarly, Movember). After all, it’s a popular representation of our willingness to take on a beard or facial hair for a just cause. But do you know what that cause is, or what the goal of ‘no-shave November” is as a whole?
As a group of bearded individuals (the Volt team), and as a bearded individual myself, we simply had to include a blog on what no-shave November is and why it’s so important to all men, and not only those with beards. Let’s discover why!
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What is No-Shave November?
Here’s what it says on the official No-Shave November website:
“No-Shave November is a month-long journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness.” – https://no-shave.org/
In essence, no-shave November is a month in which men everywhere refuse to shave in order to build awareness around cancer prevention. Here’s what the official website says about the overall concept:
“The goal is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.” – https://no-shave.org/
Movember vs No-Shave November
“Movember” is another similar organization to no-shave November. However, Movember was created in 2003 by a group of Australian men whose goal was to bring awareness to overall men’s health. The concept remained the same: Don’t shave for the full month of November.
Although no-shave November is more exclusive to cancer awareness than Movember is, the overall concept of participation is the same throughout these two charitable organizations. So, why do people participate? Well, although many participate in these charities for the fun and comical aspect of the challenge, many also take it quite seriously. Especially those who have struggled with cancer or the effects of cancer in their own lives.
The History of No-Shave November
According to various online sources, this tradition began back in 2009 as a Facebook campaign to raise awareness and money for cancer research and charities. It was originally begun by the “Hill” family after Matthew Hill, their father, died of colon cancer, hence the focus on cancer research and awareness.
In later years, no shave November has become quite a popular display and campaign for cancer awareness with over 5 million active participants.
How to Participate
To participate in these charities, all you have to do is follow a few simple rules:
- Put away your razor and don’t shave for the whole month.
- Donate your hair-styling/grooming budget for the month to the cause of cancer research.
- When asked, bring up the reason for your participation to spread further awareness.
As you can see, the requirements for participation are quite simple and can be done individually or as part of a group!
All in all, no shave November and Movember are amazing opportunities for us as men to collaborate and spread the importance of men’s health and cancer awareness to others. It doesn’t take much to participate, and as we head into November hopefully this article will help you gain a little perspective and inspiration to start your own anti-shaving journey!
For further details and to sign up for your own no-shave November account, you can click HERE.
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