Put down the razor, hide away those clippers, and trouble the barber no more. It's that time of year again, the particularly hair-raising one - and we don't mean Halloween.
November is no more. The month now heraldsMovember, and 11 years after it was first launched to raise money and awareness for men's health in 2003, its effects can be spotted up and down the high street, in bars, schools, offices, and trains.
Suddenly men begin to look like they've stepped out of Downton Abbey - or worse, Duck Dynasty - and a toyboy becomes harder to spot.
The charity's current partners include Prostate Cancer UK and The Institute of Cancer Research.
What is Movember?
Bringing the diminutive word 'Mo' - meaning moustache - and 'November' together, the annual event aims to raise awareness for men's health. The aim of Movember, also known as No Shave November, is for perfectly ordinary men to brave the task of growing a moustache and raising money for charity fighting prostate cancer, testicular and mental health issues such as despression.
It started in Melbourne, Australia in 2004 , when a group of friends decided to revive an old fashioned trend - the moustache. They started for prostate cancer and to date the figures raised in
How to take part
The Movember Foundation is a global men’s health charity which raises vital funds and awareness for the often ignored issues of men’s health, by encouraging men to shave off their stubble and sprout a moustache for the month of November. To find out more info and to sign up to take part, visit theMovember website: http://uk.movember.com
What are the Movember rules?
Once you've registered you just need to follow these rules for the whole of November.
- Begin the 1st of November with a clean shave
- For the whole of the month you must grow and groom you moustache
- Sadly no beards!
- Or joining your chin to your handlebars
November is fast approaching so depending on your rate of moustache growth, it's almost time to start growing that tash. To help you on your way and prepare you for your new facial friend, here are 11 hairy facts and important historic context.
We hope they tickle your fancy.
1. Hairy face
There are between 10,000 and 20,000 hairs on a man's face and the average moustache has 600.
2. Soggy tash
The average one-month old moustache is capable of holding 30ml of liquid or 10 per cent of a glass of beer before leaking its contents down the owner's face. Useful for spills....
3. Albert Einstein
The great scientist sported his moustache for over 50 years. What a ledge.
4. First ever moustache
The first artifact known to sport a tash dates back to 300 BC and depicts an Iranian horseman with a thick black number.
5. The Beatles
In 1967 The Beatles gave away cardboard moustaches with their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
6. Burt Reynolds
The legend's moustache has its very own Facebook page with nearly 4,000 Facebook fans. It doesn't tweet. That would just be weird.
7. Touching
On average a man with a moustache touches it 760 times a day. We suggest carrying hand sanitiser during the month of Movember.
8. No kissing
In Eureka, Nevada, USA, it is illegal for men with moustaches to kiss women.
9. Cutting it fine
US marines are not permitted to grow moustaches longer than half an inch.
10. The world's longest
The world's longest tash is thought to belong to an Indian chap called Singh Chauhan of Rajastan who proudly sports a 14ft monster. He likes to keep it healthy with massages in mustard and coconut oil.
11. Call the police
Police in the district of Madhya Pradesh state in India are being paid to grow moustaches because bosses believes it makes them command more respect.
