Bearded ladies belong in a circus, but that doesn’t mean No Shave November is exclusively for the guys.
Girls are participating in the festivities of the month as well. While they may not have to worry about shaving their faces, or growing out the manliest beard in 30 days, there are other ways women take part in the fun.
Most girls celebrate No Shave November by not shaving their legs for the entire month. It may sound like the tactical approach of a competitive swimming team, but it works none the less.
Some girls partake because they are simply too lazy to shave their legs. It can be a hassle to spend that extra time in the shower. With the weather changing to permit the everyday wear of jeans and leggings, shaving stops being a necessity. No Shave November gives women the excuse they need not to pick up a razor all month.
Others, like Marissa Horn, do it because it has become a tradition. She’s done it consistently since she was in high school.
“We would do it for track practice,” Horn, a junior journalism major, said.
For some clubs and teams No Shave November may be a way of bonding that becomes habit and continues beyond the sport and the team.
Girls may avoid No Shave November because they’re afraid of what guys will say.
Most long-term boyfriends won’t care what your legs look like, and take Horn’s advice for going on dates during this razor-free month.
“It’s a conversation starter,” Horn said. “I went on several dates in November.”
Some girls try tackling No Shave November and are unable to make it through the entire month.
Nicole Centi, a junior business student attempted to participate in No Shave November, but gave in and shaved before the month was over.
“It was really itchy against my jeans,” Centi said. “It was really uncomfortable.”
Even though she was unable to make it through the entire month, the challenge didn’t turn her against it. “Maybe I’ll try it again next year,” she said.
She originally tried it because her roommate was doing it and because everyone assumes it’s only for guys.
For some of the guys that do it, the month has been turned into a competition to see who can grow the biggest and best beard.
In truth, No Shave November is no not intended to be a competition. On the surface, it’s simply about not shaving.
On a different level however, No Shave November is about helping those battling cancer.
Partnered with the American Cancer Society, No Shave November is aimed at raising awareness with hair. It’s as simple as it sounds. Many cancer patients lose their hair during cancer treatment, so growing hair is a great way to show support.
To take it the extra step, the American Cancer Society encourages participants to donate the money that they would have spent on shaving in the month of November.
So, while it may be itchy or unsightly not to shave for an entire month, girls can in fact join the fun.
Whether it’s a pact between friends or a solo project, any girl participating in No Shave November is part of a much larger, increasingly hairy, community. And after all, it’s for a good cause.