No-Shave November: What It Means & How to Participate

During the month of November, skipping your morning shave can end up making a difference in the fight against cancer. Skipping your morning shave this November can help spark conversations, raise awareness, and contribute to the fight against cancer. When you notice more facial hair sprouting up around the office during this month, it’s likely your employees are participating in No-Shave November.

What Is No-Shave November?

No-Shave November is a month-long initiative that encourages people to forgo shaving and grooming for the entire month of November. The goal is to raise awareness and funds for cancer research by embracing our natural hair, which many cancer patients lose during treatment. 

The money that would normally be spent on razors, grooming, and shaving products is instead donated to organizations working to fight cancer, such as Fight Colorectal Cancer (opens in a new window) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (opens in a new window).

No-Shave November FAQs

If this is your first time hearing about No-Shave November, let’s answer a couple of quick questions about the awareness month. 

What are the No-Shave November Rules?

The rules are simple, according to no-shave.org (opens in a new window):

1. Put down your razors and skip shaving for the entire month.
2. Encourage others to join you and spread the word.
3. Donate the money you would have spent on grooming to a nonprofit organization focused on cancer research and awareness.

What’s the difference between No-Shave November and Movember?

While No-Shave November and Movember often get mentioned together, they’re actually two separate initiatives. Movember focuses specifically on growing mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s mental health. At the same time, No-Shave November invites participants to let all their facial hair grow in support of cancer research across the board. Both movements contribute to great causes, and businesses can choose to participate in either—or better yet, both!

Can women participate in No-Shave November?

No-Shave November isn’t just for men! Women can get involved by letting their natural hair grow too! That could mean skipping leg shaving and waxing. You can show support by donating to your friends’ fundraisers or directly to cancer charities and by spreading awareness on social media. Hair growth or not, everyone can play a part in the cancer awareness movement.

Is No-Shave November only for men’s health awareness?

The Movember initiatives focus more on men’s health awareness. While men’s health is a key focus during No-Shave November, the movement extends far beyond that. It highlights the need for cancer awareness and research for all types of the disease. Businesses can rally around causes like colon cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and even cancers that affect women, such as breast cancer, by supporting this initiative.

How did No-Shave November start? What about Movember?

The Hill family started No-Shave November in 2009 to honor their father, Matthew Hill, who passed from colon cancer. Movember began in Australia when two men used their mustaches to raise money for prostate cancer.

Ways To Participate in No-Shave November

No-Shave November offers your business the opportunity to have a little fun and make a real impact. There are plenty of ways to join the movement, from organizing friendly competitions in the office to partnering with local nonprofit organizations, your business can take an active role in raising cancer awareness and contributing to cancer prevention efforts.

Have an Internal Challenge

The most obvious way to get involved is by organizing a No-Shave November challenge at the office. Let employees opt into the challenge to see who can grow the best beard and/or mustache, and go the longest without shaving. Reward the participants with prizes and swag like custom logo mugs or apparel, but we think a branded travel grooming kit is the perfect prize once the month ends.

Partner with Local Hospitals, Non-Profit Organizations, & Charities

Make your participation even more meaningful by teaming up with a local nonprofit organization or hospital to spread awareness and encourage your community to go in for their regular check-ups. 

If there’s not a local partner you can work with, start an in-office fundraiser or donate a portion of proceeds from sales to a cancer foundation during the month-long initiative.

Let Fans Follow Along on Social Media

Take the challenge to social media with weekly progress updates of the participants in the office. Your posts encourage your followers to join in the cause and increase your social engagement. Use popular hashtags like #NoShaveNovember or #Movember to connect with a broader audience. 

Consider taking photos each day to make a timelapse of the growth at the end of the month, or hold polls on your feed to see who has the best hair growth each week. Send a couple of lucky followers one of the branded grooming kits at the end of the month to encourage likes and shares online. 

Offer Custom Logo Mustache Products with Donations

Incentivize participation with branded mustache-themed promotional products like stress relievers, keychains, or mustache mugs. Our mustache bottle opener keychain can be offered as part of a fundraising incentive. With every donation, customers or employees can receive a small token of appreciation that also raises awareness for cancer prevention.

Reasons to Get Involved at the Office

Participating in No-Shave November at the office is a win-win for businesses. Not only does it support a great cause, but it brings employees together, sparks conversations with customers, and boosts your brand's reputation. 

Corporate Social Responsibility –  Participating shows that your company is committed to advocacy and giving back, aligning your brand with social good. 

Employee Morale – Challenges like No-Shave November can boost team spirit and promote a positive workplace culture. The light-hearted and fun nature of this challenge can raise the comradery in the office. 

Customer Engagement – Customers love to support companies that care and the extra facial hair may get some questions. No-Shave November can encourage conversation between customers and prospects, give you the opportunity to educate on a great cause and strengthen your brand loyalty. 

Impact on Cancer Awareness – The best reason to get involved is the impact you’ll make. By spreading the word about cancer prevention and fundraising, you’re making a real difference in the fight against cancer. 

Choosing A Cause to Support 

You have the opportunity to select a good cause to support during No-Shave November. Find a non-profit organization that aligns with your company’s values and resonates with your employees. You can poll your employees for causes to support or choose to support a cause that will affect your target audience. Employees can also start their own fundraisers for the cancer research and prevention that matters most to them. Your business can choose to match donations. 

Turn Stubble Into Support and Whiskers Into Wins This No-Shave November

No-Shave November is a light-hearted way to boost cancer awareness. As your office participates in No-Shave November or Movember, you not only create a positive workplace for your employees, but you also have the opportunity to engage customers and prospects in a meaningful way. 

Join in the efforts to promote men’s health and wellness by raising funds for cancer research, while you bring your team together.  So, we mustache you, are you ready to put down those razors and let your whiskers work for a worthy cause?