It's here. That dreaded/adored time of year when all of our guy friends and boyfriends let their facial hair run wild for an entire month. The month of November has been declared, "No Shave November," and gives all our men an excuse to grow the beards that they've always wanted to without our nagging. We hate it because sometimes the beard it just too much to handle: the itch, the untamed look, the crumbs that always seem to stay in there. But as much as we hate it, we have to love it. There's just something about seeing your man in the unshaven manly state that No Shave November brings. It's rugged, and I hate to admit it, but it's hot. So, No Shave November is here and like it or not, chances are you're going to see plenty of facial hair this month.
After having a talk with my own boyfriend about No Shave November, I started to wonder how this all started. I asked him and he jokingly replied, "I am just raising awareness!" Even though he was kidding, he is right. There is a purpose and cause behind the phenomenon of No Shave November. If you participate in No Shave November you are really raising awareness about cancer, men's health, and more specifically, testicular cancer. According to the official website for No Shave November, this month is a journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. In addition to not shaving, participants are encouraged to donate the money they would normally spend on monthly hair-maintenance to cancer research. We all know men tend to be more hesitant to go to the doctor. This is problematic because according to the American Cancer Society nearly half of all cases of testicular cancer are in men between the ages of 20 and 34. Ironically, this is also the age group that is most likely to participate in No Shave November.
So this month make sure all of your friends know why they are letting their beards become untamed and out of control. Sure, No Shave November is a fun excuse for boys to grow out their beards and gives us girls a chance to see the manliest of men, but keep in mind the reason behind it.
For more information about testicular cancer and your risk, please visit http://www.testicularcancersociety.org/
