Getting involved with Movember is a great way to have a laugh and do some good at the same time.
Competing with your mates or colleagues to see who can grow the best mo’ can be a lot of fun, and you can raise a whole load of cash for men’s health causes along the way.
Movember has been going for a good few years now, but not everyone is 100% clear on the rules. Can you keep your beard for the month? Are you allowed to trim your ‘tache? Is moustache styling allowed? Let’s take a look…
What is Movember?
Movember started life in Australia in 2003, when guys were challenged to grow moustaches for a whole month, raising money for prostate and testicular cancer by asking for sponsorship from their friends, family and colleagues.
Today, Movember raises millions each year, improving awareness of men’s physical and mental health, meaning you could be doing your bit to save lives and support other guys far simply by leaving your razor alone for a month.
But is there really no shaving at all allowed during the whole of November? Let’s take a closer look at the rules of the challenge.
The Movember Rulebook
1. Start with a Clean Shave
To give everyone a fair chance, you need to start Movember with a clean shave.
You don’t want to be starting the month with razor bumps affecting your desired moustache growth, so make sure you’re using a fresh, sharp razor blade.
For a seriously smooth, comfortable start to the challenge, we recommend shaving on October 31st with the Gillette SkinGuard Sensitive Razor or our ProGlide Razor for the best possible mo-growing conditions.
Don’t forget to use shaving gel or foam either for extra protection from your blade - explore our range here.
2. Let Your Mo’ Grow for a Whole Month
If you’re playing by the Movember rulebook, you’re then not allowed to shave off your moustache for the whole of November, although a little bit of trimming and styling is okay - more on this later.
You’re going to have to say goodbye to the skin above your upper lip for the next four weeks, and you’ll have to learn to be patient. For the first week or two especially, you might find yourself repeatedly having to explain your scruffier-than-normal appearance - own it; confidence is key.
3. Keep Your Beard Clean-Shaven
Movember doesn’t allow beards, so you’re going to have to keep yours clean-shaven for the month.
The Gillette All Purpose Styler and Beard Trimmer will fast become your new best pal in Movember - use it to trim your moustache, and use the ProGlide razor blade that it comes with to keep the rest of your facial hair clean-shaven.
The beard trimmer is also the perfect tool for when you want to get back to normal after Movember - it's even 100% waterproof, so you can your grooming at the sink or in the shower.
4. Find Your Moustache Style
You can trim your ‘tache - you just can’t completely remove it. But that means you can experiment with finding your perfect moustache style.
Grow out the ends and style them with wax for a quirky handlebar; let your ‘tache grow further down your face and rock the walrus; or keep it simple, trimmed and neat with a classic original moustache - the choice is yours. Who knows, you might love your Movember look so much that you adopt it as your new signature style!
5. Raise Awareness (and Money) for Men’s Health
Most importantly, Movember is a chance to raise awareness and money for some incredibly important men’s health causes.
Register yourself over at movember.com, get your friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you, and you’ll be fundraising for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, male mental health and suicide prevention - all just by growing your moustache!
Every time someone asks about your new moustache, use it as a chance to start a conversation about what you’re doing and the cause you’re supporting, and you’ll be doing your bit - it really is as simple as that.
Grow your mo’ and help other men be the best they can be.
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