No Shave November, a non-calendar, month-long holiday celebrated by the national college male demographic, occurs annually to either the delight or chagrin of the female population. Gaining ground with each passing year, No Shave November (or No Shave Novem-beard, if you will) began with the intent to raise awareness of prostate cancer and other male cancer initiatives. Thus, NSN has inspired beard and mustache-growing contests across the country to raise money for the cause. Yet, us women have to wonder: Is No Shave November the result of philanthropic-minded college men, or an excuse for guys to go grungy and forgo razors and shaving cream for an entire month? I have my thoughts. Yet, on the other side of it, an anonymous male Bucknellian offers his perspective on this hairy holiday.
GIRL: For me, No Shave November is thoroughly enjoyable. My guy type? The grungier, the better. Friends often wonder “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” when I refute the clean-cut, large-muscled, pretty-boy for a much scrawnier, scruffier, hipster-meets-nerdy guy prototype. Sorry ‘bout it, but a girl likes what she likes. Therefore, I find the month of November a time for eye candy, a time for manliness (in my mind), and a time worth praising the extensive laziness of college-age men.
However, it’s clear to me how girls can misinterpret No Shave November as a horrible turnoff. Not shaving can be seen as a lack of personal hygiene (“Helllooo, where’s your sense of dignity?”) or a lack of motivation (“You won’t shave? Well, then you probably won’t become a CEO either…”). No Shave November makes sorority sisters reconsider their formals dates (“I will NOT be seen on Instagram with some caveman!”) and forces them to think twice about their consistent hook-ups on campus (“Sorry, but I don’t break for beards”). Any way they spin it, the majority of college women seem even more disappointed with NSN than a kid on Christmas when they discover Santa isn’t real; except maybe, if Santa were to shave, all would be well and good.
Even if guys aren’t into NSN for the philanthropic purpose as mentioned earlier, I excuse it. My view is that scruff truly makes the man. Think lumberjacks, cavemen, Vikings, and Steve Carell’s hot new look, even at 50 (ladies, don’t deny it!). A full-face beard and acceptance of this hilarious holiday make guys who celebrate NSN the kind worth pursuing.
GUY: No Shave November (commonly referred to by fratty males as NSN) is a yearly highlight in the facial follicle department. Personally, I have carried out NSN as NSNDAMJ (No Shave November, December and maybe January) the past two years, with this year to be no exception in my book. With absolutely no one to impress as a senior in college, I realize that this is the only time when I can try and get away with such disgusting personal hygiene.
The festival of manliness isn’t a laughing matter: you may see that scrawny freshman scrub “participating” with a batch of awkward gangly hairs protruding from his chin and neck, claiming this to be a “beard.” Pathetic. Embarrassment–go back to high school. In the minds of all burly NSN disciples, this kid should have cut his losses at the outset and just kept up his once-every-two-weeks shaving habits. Simply stated, no man should be “that kid” when it comes to NSN. This is a time for genetic hairiness to shine with no consequence: on behalf of all holiday disciples, I ask forgiveness of all lady friends that may be “inconvenienced” by this tradition, if you catch my drift.
Albeit a cliché statement, NSN definitely separates the boys from the men. As mentioned above, the pathetic couple-hair chin disaster is far from acceptable as part of this festival. Men are provided the opportunity to do what they do best: cultivate a forest of entangled ickiness on their faces for 30 (or more) days, consequence free. Personally, I use the month to raise awareness amongst the female gender regarding the importance of this annual tradition to their male counterparts–a sort-of contribution to collegiate society, I guess.
Now, it’s up to you to decide: pro-beard or anti-‘stache? Comment with your thoughts!