Last updated on August 3rd, 2022 at 04:27 pm

Put down the razor and step away from the shaving cream. It’s the month-long period when you’re encouraged to get really hairy! That’s because two initiatives  — No-Shave November and Movember — are in full swing, urging men to grow out facial hair as a way to raise awareness and funds for important men’s health issues.

Men face different health challenges throughout their lives, including a higher risk for certain cancers. In fact, more than 3 million American men are living with prostate cancer, according to Cancer.org. Mental health is another crucial issue, as men account for 70% of all suicides.

We want all men to live happy, healthy, and long lives. But if you’d rather not (or can’t) grow a beard, there’s plenty of other ways to get involved.

• One of the easiest ways is to support your friends, family, or colleagues that are already fundraising with facial hair. Feeling extra generous? Find a member, team, or organization on No-Shave November’s leaderboards and donate online, where your contributions will go to cancer prevention, education, and research.


• Who doesn’t love a party? By hosting a simple get-together, you’ll create an opportunity to chat about health concerns, as well as raise funds. And because men are 33% less likely to see a doctor than women, it’s also the perfect time for a gentle reminder about regular checkups. From potlucks to sporting events to trivia nights, Movember has a ton of ideas and resources on planning.


• Get moving for men’s health. The Movember organization challenges all to run or walk 60 miles during November and raise funds along the way. Why 60? That’s the number of men that are lost to suicide each hour, every hour. The Movember charity funds global health initiatives and research for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.


• Share your support on social media. If you’ve grown a beard or mustache, show it off with a selfie, or post pictures of your event and inspire others to participate. Popular hashtags are #legitgrow, #movember, #noshavenovember, and #beardgang.

For more information on men’s health topics throughout the year, make sure to subscribe to the Boiron blog.