What’s The Story Behind No-Shave November?
Wait, what the heck is No-Shave November, anyway?
It’s a valid question.
First of all, sort of like Dry January, it just has a ring to it. Marketers love loose rhymes and alliteration, after all. Perhaps because of that, it loses its meaning over time, and you’ve forgotten why you even grow it out every November.
For example, does this sound familiar?
“So you just, like, don’t shave for the whole month?”
“...yeah.”
Not a great look, boys! Let’s get our credibility back.
We’re not just growing beards for the heck of it. We have a purpose here! No-Shave November DOES indeed have meaning, an important one, far deeper than those hair follicles. Let’s throw away our razors and dig into that beautiful bearded history, shall we?
The History and Meaning Behind No-Shave November
No, it didn’t start in a log cabin in backwoods Montana one crisp autumn morning (though that would be a good story).
Actually, you can trace the roots of giving up shaving all the way back to ancient Greece. Philosopher Plato believed that growing a beard for 30 days could help one acquire knowledge and wisdom. His student Aristotle even wrote in Nicomachean Ethics, “…no man can be trusted if he is without a beard. For that reason, beard growth training is as important as proper training in ethics.”
Beard ethics! Who knew?
Fast forward a couple of thousand years and here we are, watching each other’s beard progress on social media, just like the Greeks imagined.
The modern No-Shave November movement, though, began with a far more meaningful purpose. The Hill family from Chicago started it as a fundraising initiative after losing their father, Matthew Hill, to colon cancer. They launched No-Shave.org to encourage people to stop shaving, embrace their natural hair, and donate the money they’d normally spend on grooming to cancer research and awareness.
No-Shave November is a month-long journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. Learn more about how you can get involved and start getting hairy!
The goal of No-Shave November 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.
That’s right! On the heels of wearing pink for breast cancer awareness, some intrepid dudes decided November should be for the boys. After all, we already get Thanksgiving for falling asleep on the couch watching football after gorging ourselves on a delicious meal like a bunch of fatties. So why the heck should we shave?
We shouldn’t. So we don’t. For cancer.
No-Shave November Vs. Movember: What's the Difference?
Here’s another sub-question we weren’t sure about — is there a difference between No-Shave November and Movember or are they the same thing with different nicknames?
It turns out, they are entirely different movements that happen to have similar goals. They are separate initiatives started by different charity groups halfway around the world from each other.
Movember is nearly a decade older. The Movember Foundation was started in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, by a group of 30 people who stopped shaving for 30 days to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression in men. This movement grew and was then emulated around the world.
No-Shave November surely took some inspiration from our Aussie brothers. The Chicago-based Hill family started No-Shave November as a fundraising initiative two years after losing family patriarch, Matthew Hill, to colon cancer. His eight children started No-Shave.org and spearhead the American version of the movement to raise money for cancer-fighting foundations. To date, they have helped raise more than $10 million.
See? There is power in beards and strength in numbers.
Why Beards Matter During No-Shave November
Cancer patients often lose their hair when they undergo chemotherapy to treat their disease. Growing facial hair is an easy way to show support for your fellow man. While they’re fighting, you’re growing. It’s a pretty easy, low-effort commitment to make!
PSA: If you’re a male over 45, it’s time to get your colonoscopy and prostate exam. Early detection saves lives — and helps ensure you’ll be around to keep growing that glorious beard.
How To Participate In No-Shave November
The rules are simple:
1. Put down your razor for 30 days.
2. Donate your typical hair-maintenance expenses to the cause.
3. Encourage others to join you.
Got a strict dress code at work? Don’t sweat it. Grooming and trimming are totally acceptable — participation is what counts.
Whether you’re fundraising or just growing in solidarity, it all helps raise awareness. Remember that Ice Bucket Challenge thing? Yeah — same idea.
And don’t stress about how your beard grows. Everyone’s beard fills in differently, and genetics plays a huge role. What matters most is showing up for the cause and taking care of what you’ve got.
We’re here to help you make it look its best.
How To Make It Through The Month Successfully (& Comfortably)
Hot take: some trimming and grooming are absolutely allowed — and encouraged.
The point isn’t to go full Methuselah. You don’t want whiskers in your mouth when you eat or static-charged flyaways that stick straight out.
We’re not saying, “Whelp, time to throw on my give-ups and ditch grooming until Santa shows up.”
That’s not it at all, friends.
Show solidarity for your fellow mankind by growing a beard you (and your lady) can be proud of. One that finally earns you that mountain man cred you’ve always wanted. Think more, “That guy looks like he could swing an axe,” and less, “He probably collects vintage typewriters and wears beanies in July.”
Let’s grow it and groom it so that your beard looks and feels its best.
Need help getting started? Check out our Beard Care Guide and grab a few essentials to keep the infamous beard itch away:
Beard Wash to remove buildup and keep your beard clean
Beard Oil to hydrate and soften both beard and skin
Grow yourself a glorious beard, comfortably. And if you have the means, please do participate in No-Shave November and donate to a cancer charity of your choice. Round up the boys and grow your beards out together. Have some fun with it!
Beard Care Tips for No-Shave November (and Beyond)
Keeping your beard comfortable and healthy doesn’t take much — just consistency and the right products.
• Wash it regularly: Use a gentle daily beard wash to remove dirt, food debris, and product buildup without stripping away your skin’s natural oils. A clean beard is the foundation of a healthy routine.
• Moisturize daily: Healthy beards start at the root. Apply beard oil to hydrate the skin, reduce itch and dryness, and support stronger, fuller beard growth.These small steps make a big difference — not just in how your beard looks, but in how it feels.
These small steps make a big difference — not just in how your beard looks, but in how it feels.
Show Support, Grow with Purpose
Grow your beard proudly this No-Shave November and, if you’re able, donate to support cancer research or someone in your community who’s fighting the battle. Whether you’re growing for a cause or just joining the tradition, do it with purpose — and make it a beard worth remembering.
To keep it healthy and itch-free, check out our handcrafted grooming essentials made right here in Tennessee with clean, skin-friendly ingredients.