Hairy season is upon us. Here's how No Shave November got its start
It's time to ditch your razor for a few weeks and become your scruffiest self ahead of Thanksgiving.
That's right: it's No Shave November.
The mustached movement has taken social media by storm since its advent in 2009, with everyone from athletes to firefighters flexing their unencumbered locks.
But did you know the trend has actually garnered millions in funds toward cancer research? Or that it has a sister movement, Movember, dedicated solely to growing mustaches during November?
Here's everything to know about this online trend and its razor-sharp societal impact.
What is No Shave November? And when did it begin?
The official No Shave November organization launched in 2009, when a Chicago-based family decided to use the trend to raise funds for cancer charities. The initiative was born in honor of their father, Matthew Hill, who passed away from colon cancer in November 2007.
Part of the mission, the organization's website states, is to have folks embrace their hair, given that many cancer patients often lose their hair during treatment.
The Hill family launched a Facebook page for the people who ditch their razors and want to document their whisker woes, donating what they would normally spend on grooming (from a few dollars on razors to $100 on a salon visit) to cancer organizations.
What started as a small Facebook page with participants donating their own money toward fighting cancer has blossomed into a global phenomenon benefitting a range of cancer foundations. Since 2009, the family-founded organization has raised over $12 million for other nonprofits pursuing cancer awareness, research and prevention.
This year, No Shave November is supporting 12 nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Fund, the Kidney Cancer Association and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Association.
How do you participate in No Shave November?
Participate in No Shave November by following these two simple steps:
Say "adios" to your razor and let your locks flow!
Set up a personal No Shave November fundraising page at no-shave.org and start gathering funds from family and friends.
If you'd like to assemble some co-workers or a group of friends for the no-shave challenge, you can set up a team fundraising page and gather donations that way. Keep track of how your fundraising page is doing at the organization's leaderboard, updated online at no-shave.org/leaderboard/.
What is Movember?
No Shave November's sister movement, Movember, kick-started in 2003 in Australia by two friends, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, who were determined to bring back the mustache as a fashion trend. Since then, the project has grown into a global movement, funding more than 1,250 men’s health initiatives, addressing everything from mental health to suicide prevention and prostate and testicular cancers.
Those interested in participating in Movember can create their personal fundraising page and set their donation goals at us.movember.com/support-us/host.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How did No Shave November get its start? A look at its history