Beards provide warmth, competition

Story by Logan Brettell

All over campus, razors, grooming kits and trimmers have been stored away, at least until December. Campus is full of men staring at themselves in the bathroom mirror attempting to make their facial hair shoot out at a visible pace. They are anxious to see who can grow the thickest beard in the least amount of time.

“It’s really a competition,” senior Ryan Good said. “Growing facial hair has become an exciting part of many students’ winter months.”

Originally called “Movember,” the “No Shave November” idea came from the Movember Foundation Charity and its attempt to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues in nations such as Australia and New Zealand. It was and still is an annual event that calls for the growing of moustaches.

The organization claims that the event can “change the face of men’s health,” hence the growing of moustaches, and ultimately helps increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.

For these students at Baker, however, the month of November is less about a higher purpose or charity event, and more about a fun competition during one of the calendar’s colder months. The ultimate goal is not necessarily a championship, but bragging rights around campus.

“I just hope I can grow the thickest beard out of my roommates,” sophomore Sam Wescott said. “We all grow beards pretty fast, so it’ll be interesting to see who grows the best one.”

Although the annual “No Shave November” competition has become a tradition at Baker, a renewed interest has taken hold of the male students as a result of the sudden cold front that recently rolled through.

“I’d almost rather have a beard now because it keeps my face warm,” Wescott said. “It’s gotten so cold lately that it’s just nice to have a thick blanket on my face.”

Good and freshman Sam Clemens agree that having a beard certainly keeps their faces warm in the cold, blistery winds during this particularly frigid November.

“I love having a beard to keep me warm,” Clemens said. “But sometimes it is a hassle to take care of.

Many men at Baker would agree that taking care of their facial hair is a challenge during November. Such challenges include extra washing, conditioning, brushing or combing, and making sure it grows quickly enough to have a decently sized beard by the end of November.

“I make sure to wash it at least once a day,” Wescott said. “Otherwise it gets really rough and tangled and is just kind of gross to have to handle.”

Clemens described the process of taking care of his beard as “awful.”

“The work I have to put in just to take care of it is almost not even worth having a beard,” Clemens said.

Some Baker men have tried popular shampoo products such as Fructis Shampoo and Conditioner, Tea Tree Special Shampoo and Conditioner, and Suave for Men. Many of thems say that conditioner is especially essential to making sure facial hair is soft and comfortable.

“I have to condition my beard,” Good said. “It makes my beard nice and soft. Otherwise it would just get scratchy and uncomfortable.

Ultimately, the amount of visible skin on many male students’ faces is decreasing, replaced by thickening facial hair. Students are spending their free time constantly checking their progress in the mirror, coaxing their facial hair out in order to keep up with the hairier competition.