By Alejandra Jimenez
After a few weeks of going unshaven, the hair on the face of Salar Dean, Div. 053, had spread like thick moss. Dean sported this burly look for No Shave November, a month-long event of no shaving, intended to raise awareness and money for men’s prostate cancer.
The movement is being pushed by The Movember Foundation, a non-profit organization, whose official website www.us.movemberfoundation.com, reports that the foundation’s purpose is “to change the attitude men hold toward their
health.”
For men, the mustache is a symbol that helps promote awareness. It acts as a walking billboard for the participant to use as a way to promote the cause.
Some student participants allowed their hair to grow to new lengths.
“It felt weird because my face was all uneven with hair,” said Milos Zaric, Div. 177. “My right side would have more hair than my left. It looked silly.”
“It was very annoying to feel my mustache go inside my mouth,” said
Brian Ramirez, Div. 031.
Women were also encouraged to participate by not shaving their legs.
“It felt weird at times,” said Karen Rondero, Div. 040. “I was tempted to shave during the last week because I wanted the month to be done with already. I like the feeling of newly [shaved] legs.”
Rondero admitted the event provided a convenient excuse for not shaving.
“I did it because I’m very lazy during the fall/winter time because I’m not wearing shorts anymore,” she said. “A few of my friends understood because they are also too lazy to shave their legs this time of year.”
“My reason for doing the No Shave November thing was because, to be honest, I thought it would be a time saver,” said Vanessa Goite, Div. 161. “My friends didn’t know that I didn’t shave my legs [though]. Since it’s winter no one shows their legs.”
Some students were asked by friends and family to shave before the month was over.
“No one liked my scruffy look that whole month. My parents were begging me to shave,” said Amir Allam, Div. 263.
“My mom was telling me to get rid of the mustache because I looked like a delinquent,” said Ramirez.
Several participants reported being tempted to shave during the month, and some gave in.
“[My facial hair] lasted 18 days,” said English teacher Mr. Palmer. “[I shaved for] report cards. I didn’t want to look like a hobo when I saw the parents.”
“I had no choice. I have wrestling. You have to shave your face,” said Juan Campos, Div. 179.
“Whenever Campos [my boyfriend] said I was as hairy as him, I was tempted to shave,” said Goite.
When the month finally ended, some were relieved to finally be able to shave.
“I’m clean and I don’t feel like a dirtbag anymore,” said Ramirez.
“I could [go longer], but I don’t want to look like a werewolf,” said Zaric.
“If [my girlfriend] wasn’t so crazy about me not shaving, I would [have] done the whole winter,” said Dean.
Others took such a liking to their new growth they have continued to let it go.
“By late October, I had already been growing out my facial hair for a self-portrait photography assignment,” said Eddy Palacios, Div. 049. “I heard about No Shave November and decided to grow it out for both reasons. [It was] kind of like killing two birds with one stone. I plan on continuing to grow it out until New Years just to see how it goes.”
April Aksoy, Div. 040, was not as impressed with the No Shave November movement because she thought the idea was silly and did not like how “people made it seem like a Facebook gathering.”
Others are already thinking about doing it again next year.
“I would do it again [but only] if I’m too lazy too shave again,” said Georgie Lawson, Div. 164.
“I’m definitely doing this next year. I like to challenge my will and I like picking out my next facial hairstyle in December,” said Allam.