What is No Shave November?

For those who aren’t familiar with the origin of No Shave November, it’s just a month of the year dedicated to men growing their beards. However, No Shave November is more than just a month-long beard-growing fest, it’s actually an awesome movement designed to draw attention to and raise money for cancer-related causes. Getting involved is super simple, you don’t even have to have a beard, you just have to read this blog!

Meaning Behind No Shave November

Because cancer patients often experience hair loss during cancer treatments, No Shave November is about growing awareness by embracing hairiness and then donating money that would’ve been spent on hair removal/grooming to cancer-fighting efforts.

Rules of No Shave November

Straight from the official No Shave November website, “The rules of No-Shave November are simple: put down your razor for 30 days and donate your monthly hair-maintenance expenses to the cause.”

Who Can Participate in No Shave November?

No Shave November was originally started to raise awareness for men’s health. Despite their logo of a mustache and beard, the official NSN website does not specify who can and can’t participate, but encourages participation at any and all levels (so let’s get to it, ladies!) While most women may not have bushy beards to maintain, the cost of hair removal methods for legs and eyebrows adds up.

How Much Could I Save During No Shave November?

• Razors (cost $1-$14 for a four pack, and I’m sure they can be even more expensive depending on the quality)
• Shaving Cream (cost $1-$60)
• Waxing Services (costs $10-$500)
• Hair Removal Cream (costs $5-$50)
• Tweezers (costs $1-$30)
• Haircuts/Dying/Treatments (costs $10-the most expensive haircut ever cost over $16,000!)
• Laser Hair Removal (costs $50-$300)

Using Safe Products During the Rest of the Year

So what happens after No Shave November? While you might prefer your new long-hair-everywhere-don’t-care lifestyle, many people will happily go back to shaving. You can never be too careful when it comes to cancer prevention and the products you use in your daily grooming matter more than you think. Just a few days ago I listened to yet another radio announcement warning against the use of a once trusted beauty brand and offering potential compensation to those whose cancer may have been related to use of that product. Going natural with your products will help reduce the risks of this ever happening to you. 

AVNS Wants You to Be Safe

Our entire men’s line, including shaving soaps, and moisturizers will all be on sale during Black Friday. We want you to have safe, affordable options when you start shaving again. 

Shea Butter Skin Therapy

New to our collection of butters, experience Intense nutrition for skin with Shea Butter Skin Therapy, this butter is a super food for your skin! Organic, unrefined African shea butter is intensely moisturizing and can not only help relieve dry itchy skin, but can help eliminate greasy scalp and hair issues, as well as balance oil production which makes it also great for oily complexions. We have chosen to use only USDA CERTIFIED Organic Raw Unrefined African Shea butter, this pure and natural organic shea butter packaged in violet glass is the only way to go in order to reap all the benefits. 

What makes Organic Shea Butter so good for the skin? It has a high content of fatty acids which gives it the ability to deeply moisturize and retain the elasticity of the skin, it is also a great ingredient for those with inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema and dermatitis. Unrefined Shea Butter is loaded with natural vitamins A, E, natural antioxidants and fatty acids for maximum natural moisturizing power, it is an amazing body healer. Try it to help treating skin conditions such as dry skin, eczema, rashes, stretch marks, and burns. It may also help lessen the irritation of psoriasis and eczema, help diminish wrinkles, clear blemishes, and heal wounds, scars & skin discolorations. 

Classic and Rugged Shaving Soaps

These nourishing Shaving Soaps are handcrafted with natural and organic ingredients and are created to build a luxurious and satisfying lather during a traditional wet shave. 

The key to a good shaving soap is a high fat content so skin is protected during the shave, it will also nourish your skin so it doesn’t become dry and irritated. A good shaving soap is economically a great choice as it lasts a long time, and it is a wonderful option for your skin because it adds, not detracts, moisture. Ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter and avocado will do just that, nourish and protect skin during and after the shave. We’ve also added bentonite clay which brings slip to help the razor glide over the skin, and colloidal oats which help protect and soothe.

Beard Care

For those of you who want to keep rocking the beard, we have some unique beard care options to keep your beard looking its absolute best all year long.

Nourishing Beard Oil

Help prevent dry, itchy skin and enjoy a conditioned, healthy-looking beard!

Our Nourishing Beard Oil contains seven beneficial premium oils as well as four essential oils which target hair growth and conditioning, as well as beard and skin health.  Full of powerful antioxidants to help nourish your beard and facial skin, this oil may help relieve any irritation of new growth, soften and hydrate dry, brittle facial hair for more control, and rejuvenate facial skin.The unique blend of lipid rich, healing, astringent plant oils make this light weight and residue free oil great tool in tackling dandruff and flakey skin patches. Your facial hair will have just the right amount of control, while toned and moisturized facial skin is soft and clear. Nourishing Beard Oil is safe and effective for daily use and is best when applied after showering while hair is damp and soft. 

Natural Beard Shampoo & Body Bar

Made with premium natural and organic ingredients such as organic unrefined beeswax, organic unrefined raw shea butter & organic olive oil, our Natural Beard Shampoo will gently cleanse and condition for a healthy beard. Apple Valley Natural Soap’s Beard shampoo is a one stop beard care and body grooming solution, a 100% natural shampoo for beard hair, face & body. This shampoo will cleanse, soften & condition beard hair, soothe skin & help with healthy hair growth. Remove harsh synthetic chemicals, sulfates, fragrances & parabens from your cleansing routine and use our eco-friendly, biodegradable beard shampoo for all your cleansing needs. If you love the scent of our Rugged Men’s Shaving Soap, you’ll love this Beard Shampoo as well as our Beard Oil. Present but not overpowering, Apple Valley Natural Soap’s Natural Beard Shampoo has a light and fresh outdoors scent, a touch of citrus and a hint of woodsy spice.

Where Can I Donate for No Shave November?

The NSN organization partners with three cancer prevention programs

1. Prevent Cancer Foundation

“The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is one of the nation’s leading voluntary health organizations and the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, it has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence and fulfills its mission through research, education, outreach and advocacy. The Foundation has played a pivotal role in developing a body of knowledge that is the basis for important prevention and early detection strategies. Its vision is to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!® For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.”

2. Fight Colorectal Cancer

“Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) is a leading patient-empowerment and advocacy organization in the United States, providing balanced and objective information on colon and rectal cancer research, treatment, and policy. We are relentless champions of hope, focused on funding promising, high- impact research endeavors while equipping advocates to influence legislation and policy for the collective good. Learn more at fightcrc.org.”

3. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude is where doctors often send their toughest cases, because St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer. St. freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.”

Because cancer is so common, it is likely you or a loved one has fought or is currently fighting the battle against cancer. If you are already affiliated with a Cancer Prevention Program that takes donations let us and other readers know in the comments. The AVNS community wants to support you!

Much Love,

Nora