Chances are you have heard of No-Shave November, but do you know what it is? Why are men dropping their razors and embracing their unruly beards until after Thanksgiving?

No-Shave November has been a tradition for a long time, but in 2009 one family decided to make it a means to fundraise for charity. The mission of No-Shave November is now to grow cancer awareness and raise funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education.

As many cancer patients lose their hair, No-Shave November challenges you to let yours grow wild. Then take the money you would have spent on shaving this month and donate it to cancer prevention!

Participate by creating your own No-Shave November fundraising page, or donate to a friend who already has one! Visit https://no-shave.org/ to learn more.

Not only is growing a beard a way to support a great cause, it also has some surprising health benefits!

1. Beards decrease allergy and asthma symptoms.

Beards act as an additional filter before toxins can potentially reach your lungs. This can prevent pollen, dust, or other irritants from getting into your system.

More filtering of the air you breathe can lead to less asthma episodes and allergic reactions.

2. Beards help you maintain a clear complexion.

Growing a beard doesn’t only hide blemishes, it can actually prevent them! Shaving may open the skin to bacteria, and spread that bacteria, causing infection of multiple hair follicles.

3. Beards keep skin moisturized.

Beards do a great job of sheilding your face from the cold air, which can dry out skin, while also preventing you from wiping off the facial oils your body produces to naturally moisturize your skin.

4. Beards protect skin from up to 95% of harmful UV rays.

Beards can actually help prevent sun damage and skin cancer! It is important to still use sunscreen, but a beard can certainly provide additional protection.

So what do you say? How about this November you Let it Grow?