The whisker race has begun.
As of Nov. 1, participants in No Shave November have begun to grow their facial hair without interruption.
The annual phenomenon of No Shave November is more than just an opportunity for a catchy alliteration. The month-long event has origins in ancient Greek culture with Aristotle introducing the idea that there should be a long period where men refrain from shaving their beards. It has become what it is today through college culture.
Typically known as the “Halloween-Hangover” month, November typically yields un-eventfulness until Thanksgiving. That’s too long and too cold to wait for something exciting.
“On Halloween night it’s a custom for me to completely shave down my facial hair to start with a blank slate,” said junior Jordan Musick, “I like doing it to gauge how fast I can grow (my beard), like a benchmark.”
With dropping temperatures fast approaching, growing a beard also proves to be quite sensible.
“It’s like a woolly scarf that grows on your face,” said sophomore Patrick Withrow.
However, this reason is not enough for many people who do not appreciate furry faces that the month yields. This is particularly true for many women, including the girlfriends and wives of NSN’s participants.
“You may be wearing it, but I gotta look at it,” said senior Vita Price. “If it doesn’t look good, get rid of it.”
However, not all women can be classified into this group. In fact, some women even participate in abstaining from shaving not just in November, but as a lifestyle. .
If you have been at Guilford for a good amount of time (and have seen the many posts about it on Guilford College Confessions), you will definitely recognize that there are many females participating in a lifestyle that is typically classified as a “boy’s club.”
“I am not intentionally participating in No Shave November but I don’t shave,” said sophomore Kiera McNicholas. “Part of me likes the idea of females participating in No Shave November because it may expose others to the idea and reality of not shaving.
“I am a little ticked off that having body hair is more acceptable during No Shave November, like that is permission to not shave even though it is a choice to shave or not.”
After all, putting away the razor for either men or women is practical for warmth during the cold months, and the time and money it takes to shave can be tedious.
However, keeping a hairy body, including a beard, neat and clean is work in itself. Many participants feel that it is less work to shave every day because proper maintenance of a beard is crucial.
After all, Aristotle once said in the “Nicomachean Ethics” that “no man can be trusted if he is without a beard … Beard growth training is as important as proper ethics training.”
That ethics training, in the case of NSN, is making sure you do not repulse whoever is around you.
Director of Friends Center, Campus Minstry Coordinator and unofficial Resident Beard Expert Max Carter has tips for the upcoming month from his own experience of nurturing his 42-year-old beard.
“I wash it with olive oil soap in the shower each morning and then comb it,” Carter said, “I trim it a bit each time I get a hair cut.”
His top three tips for beard maintenance are: keep it combed, keep it clean and keep it out of the zipper of your coat.
Beard growing can have its trials, but has proven to be worth it for NSN participants. Just watch out for the neck beard.
“I have a slight bald spot on the right side of my jaw line,” said Musick “And the neck beard only brings itchiness and sadness. But my beard grows stronger with each passing winter.”
While no one can grow a beard as impressive as Carter’s within a month, every participant can still be successful in their furry endeavors.
Just keep everything clean.
