Each November, clean-shaven faces begin to disappear as beards, mustaches, and scruff make a noticeable comeback. Some may see a seasonal trend, but No Shave November is rooted in something deeper: raising awareness and funds in the fight against cancer.
Just ask J.J. Singleton. Every year around Halloween, he shaves, snaps a clean-faced photo, and posts it online. Then he lets everything grow and shares a progress update once a week, with a link for anyone who wants to chip in. "It's super easy to do," he says.
Easy is the point. Singleton, a former college football player, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 27, a little more than 11 years ago. He remains in treatment, and he has found a purpose in it. "Using my lived experience has given me a purpose instead of just being alive to be alive," he says. As a patient advocate volunteer with Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC), he hopes to make the road easier for the people receiving the same news he once did.
The way he starts those conversations is about as simple as it gets: a month without a razor.
What Is No Shave November?
No Shave November is a fundraising campaign that supports cancer education, awareness, and research. The idea is refreshingly simple. "Instead of spending money on grooming products, you just let your hair grow and donate whatever money you would have spent on haircuts, shaving cream, razors, things like that," says Brett Hartigan, fundraising manager at Fight CRC.
It has a heartfelt origin. The campaign began in 2009 as a grassroots Facebook effort through the Matthew Hill Foundation, started by the eight children of Matthew Hill. Their father died of colorectal cancer. Fight CRC took over the campaign in 2024, and Hartigan, who had worked with the foundation for about two years, came along as "their adopted child." The Hill family built the campaign to support all cancers, so Fight CRC kept it that way. "We wanted to honor that mission," Hartigan says.
Everyone Can Join
Signing up is free, and you can go solo or build a team. Police stations, fire departments, government agencies, and local companies have all done it, and some make it a friendly competition. "Who can grow the best beards and raise the most money," Hartigan says.
No amount is too small. "If you can only donate $10, that's totally okay," Hartigan says. "It's more about getting the word out there, getting support for advocacy, for education, for research. And the more people see these beards, the louder the campaign is."
You don't need a beard to take part, either. "It's not just about mustaches and beards," Hartigan says. "It's anything you can do, any hair you can grow." Skip a haircut. Postpone the dog groomer. Some schools even have students cheering on teachers who are growing out their facial hair. Hartigan says the campaign's mustache logo doesn't tell the whole story. "Cancer affects everybody," he says.
A Scruffy Face Starts a Conversation
Anyone who has sat at a Thanksgiving table with a growing beard knows the question that comes next. Hartigan loves it. "People will say, ‘why the beard?’ and suddenly you're talking about the importance of cancer screenings, or why you're supporting an organization like Fight CRC."
That matters, because cancer isn't easy to talk about, especially for men. Singleton knows the feeling. "It was ingrained into me: any issues that come up, you can deal with them. Don't burden other people," he says. Colorectal cancer adds another layer of reluctance, because it involves topics many people would rather avoid.
His answer is to be open. "I share the good, the bad, the ugly," Singleton says. "I'm hoping other people see that and think, if he can do that, I'm not alone, I'm not weak, this isn't just a me thing." No Shave November helps by making the subject approachable. "We believe it's an engaging and uplifting way to talk about these difficult things," adds Hartigan.
Where the Money Goes
It's easy to picture a fundraiser like this as vague goodwill, hair for hair's sake. But the money goes to specific work through Fight CRC and two partner organizations. Fight CRC, which focuses on colorectal cancer, supports advocacy, education, and research. The Prevent Cancer Foundation works on prevention and early detection across all cancers. Man Up to Cancer supports men affected by any type of cancer, including male caregivers, through peer connection and events like its Gathering of Wolves retreat.
The campaign raised $213,000 last year, and this year's goal is $250,000. Teams are already forming, and it's not too late to join. "The word is getting out, and hairs are starting to grow," Hartigan says.
Listen to Your Body
Singleton wants readers to walk away with one small, doable idea. "We need to get people more aware of symptoms and signs and tell them to listen to their body," he shares. "If something just isn't feeling right, go and tell your doctor, especially when it comes to your digestive health."
It matters at every age. Screening now begins at 45, but "colorectal cancer is the number one cancer killer for men under the age of 50," Singleton says. The good news is that awareness is growing, and every participant who explains the scruffy face helps keep the conversation going. "The money raised, the awareness raised, goes to impact real people and real patients dealing with one of the scariest times in their life," Singleton says.
A Tradition Worth Keeping
While participants traditionally begin in November, the fundraising campaign continues through January 11, so latecomers can grow a Santa beard and still count.
Hartigan is already doing his part. "My scruff is already coming in," he says. He hopes No Shave November becomes a yearly habit for readers. "It's a tradition that people are coming back for during the holiday season," he says. "When people are supposed to look their sharpest, people are getting their scruffiest for a really important cause." And he says people keep returning for a simple reason: "They have fun, and they love the message."
Whether your beard grows thick and full or barely makes it past a few days of stubble, everyone can take part. Skipping a razor, a haircut, or a groomer appointment is a small habit change that can start a conversation and support people whose lives have been touched by cancer.
no-shave.org
@no_shave_november
SIDEBAR: How to Join No Shave November
- Visit no-shave.org. Signing up is free.
- Choose how to take part. Create an individual page, or start a team with friends or coworkers.
- Let it grow. Beards, mustaches, bangs, or an extra month between haircuts all count. Skipping the dog groomer counts too.
- Donate what you'd have spent. Put your grooming budget toward your page. Even $10 helps.
- Share your progress. Post a photo, add your donation link, and update friends weekly, the way J.J. does.
The campaign runs through January 11.
Follow J.J. Singleton's progress on Instagram at @jj5145.