This year, I’m joining in on the No-Shave November movement! For the next month, I’m putting away the razor to raise awareness for cancer prevention, research, and education. I’m excited to see how it goes and thought it would be fun to share the journey with you all! So, keep an eye out for my progress posts—I’ll be sharing a selfie every few days to capture the stages of growth (or chaos) as it unfolds. Here’s to a month of letting it grow for a good cause!

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What is No-shave November? – No-Shave November started as a fun, informal tradition but gained prominence as a charity movement to raise awareness for cancer in the early 2000s. The idea behind it is simple: participants forgo shaving for the month of November to embrace their hair, which many cancer patients lose during treatment, and to spark conversations about cancer prevention, awareness, and research.

The official No-Shave November organization was launched in 2009 by the Hill family, following the loss of their father, Matthew Hill, to colon cancer in 2007. They transformed the playful tradition into a charitable campaign, encouraging people to donate the money they would have spent on grooming to cancer research organizations. Today, it has grown into a global movement, with individuals, teams, and companies participating by raising funds and spreading awareness.

While it’s often associated with beards, people participate by letting their hair grow in various ways, whether facial hair, head hair, or even body hair. Movember, a similar campaign originating in Australia, also focuses on men’s health issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health, with participants growing mustaches to spread awareness. Both initiatives have fostered a unique sense of community, combining self-expression with a cause.