What do the months of February, March and November have in common? Facial hair.
During Febru-hairy, Mustache March and No-Shave November males forget about razors and the clean cut look of a freshly shaven face and assert their masculinity in the form of facial hair.
Lesser known on the California Baptist University campus than its spring semester counterparts, No-Shave November (also known as Movember and Noshember) is a slightly confused month. Websites from around the world offer a variety of reasons for its existence, ranging from prostate cancer awareness to pure laziness.
“I really don’t notice half the time these days because so many guys have facial hair anyways,” Sophomore Nic Williams said.
Shoe company Toms has even joined in the effort by designing limited edition Classics and Botas. The grey shoes feature a white mustache on the sides. The proceeds go to the Movember Foundation.
“During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men,” said us.movember.com.
With the intent of getting sponsors for their facial hair growing efforts, for those who participate in Movember through the Movember Foundation, the money is used to help fund the Prostate Cancer Foundation, LiveStrong, Awareness & Education and Global Action Plan.
While it does acknowledge the charitable side of the month, according to noshember.com, “The goal of Noshember is not so much the contest or even the ritual shaving, but rather the shear laziness of being unkempt and rough together for an entire month. Let us not get bogged down in detail, but keep our eyes on the prize. Or prizes as it were. We’re just glad to have you beard-keepersalongfortheride”.
While the month’s original intent may not be as well known as the visible ramifications, hairy faces are not too uncommon on campus.
“It is funny at first but after a while it gets too crazy and out of control for some. I thought about doing it this year, but I think I would get too annoyed [with it]” Williams said.
