NoShave November Didnt Even Happen This Year

As someone who hasn’t shaved in over a decade, I like to think of my beard as a lifestyle choice rather than a seasonal experiment. Sure, I trim it to keep from looking like I’ve been shipwrecked, but every November, I set the clippers aside and let the wild take over. Normally, I’d be joined by a legion of fellow beard-growers all embracing the spirit of No-Shave November.

Get our free mobile app

But this year? It feels like I’m the only one out here, rocking an untamed beard for the cause.

What’s going on? Social media used to be flooded with hashtags like #NoShaveNovember and #Movember by now. Celebrities would flaunt their scruffy progress, coworkers would awkwardly explain their patchy attempts, and even that one clean-shaven friend would jump in “for the cause.” This year? The silence is deafening.

Is Everyone Over It?

No-Shave November has always been more than just a beard-growing contest—it’s about raising awareness for men’s health issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. But looking around, it feels like the tradition has fallen out of favor. Where are the rugged Instagram selfies? The overly enthusiastic “Day 15: Beard Update” posts?

In years past, big names like Chris Evans or Jake Gyllenhaal would throw their razors aside for the month, giving us scruff envy and reminding us to donate to a good cause. Now, it feels like the only people with beards are the ones who never stopped growing them—like me and maybe Jason Momoa.

Get our free mobile app

Trimming Is Cheating (At Least in November)

For me, No-Shave November is the one month where I let my beard be truly free. No trims, no shape-ups, just unapologetic, feral growth. It’s not always pretty, but that’s part of the charm. And yet, when I explain my no-trim November rule, people act like I’m some sort of hermit who’s just discovered razors exist.

Even my fellow beard enthusiasts seem to be slacking. “Oh, I’m skipping this year,” they say, as if opting out of a cultural phenomenon is a casual decision. What happened to the camaraderie? The commitment?

The Last Beard Standing

At this point, I feel like a bearded Lone Ranger, carrying the torch for a fading tradition. Maybe No-Shave November has lost its momentum because we’ve gotten too distracted—by skincare trends, TikTok challenges, or whatever weird thing Elon Musk is doing this week. Or maybe people are just burned out on hashtag activism.

Whatever the reason, I’m not giving up. For me, No-Shave November is a badge of honor, a small but meaningful way to raise awareness for men’s health and keep a decades-long streak alive.

So, if you’ve let your beard grow wild this November, I salute you. And if you’ve quietly shaved or trimmed without a second thought? Don’t worry—I’ll still be here next year, ready to carry the torch for scruffy solidarity.