Let’s talk about Movember.
Have you ever wondered why so many men are embracing more hair on their faces during this month?
Well it’s all about joining the Movember movement to raise more awareness for cancers which impact our men. Our fathers, partners, brothers and friends are facing a health crisis, yet it’s rarely talked about. Men are dying too young. Simply due to a lack of awareness of their risk of cancer.
Movember is taking prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention head on. Since its inception, the Movember Foundation has encouraged men to have frank conversations about their concerns. Their goal is to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% by 2023.
Cancer is doubling
Over the next 15 years, researchers estimate that we will see rates for prostate cancer doubling. The previous 50 years had already seen a doubling in the rates for testicular cancer. Not to mention, the world over, suicide claims one man for each minute of every day.
The good news is that when men talk about their unique health problems, change can and does happen.
Get growing
If you’ve been growing a moustache or a beard up until now, well done for your initiative! If not, don’t stress. You can still get involved:
- Run or walk 60km over the month of November – 60km for the 60 men estimated to be lost to suicide each hour around the world.
- Take a selfie with your moustache or beard and share your pictures online with the hashtag #Movember and tag the official organisation @Movember on Instagram.
- Host a “mo-ment” by inviting your loved ones over, depending on COVID-19 in your country and have a good time for a good cause, encouraging people to donate money for research.
14 hacks to take care of your moustache
1. Shave It Down
Before things start to get hairy, it’s important that you set the foundation for your moustache. Therefore, you should do a completely clean shave in order to create an environment in which your moustache can grow healthily
So when you visit your barber, make sure you ask for the full-wet shave experience, which includes hot water, face steaming, and blades.
2. Choose the right style for your face shape
Not everyone can pull off a Freddie Mercury or Tom Selleck moustache so it’s important that you consider your face shape when choosing a moustache style.
If you have a square and fuller face, or a prominent nose, then you can opt for a heavier, longer moustache. If you have an oval and narrower face, then it would be best to go for a medium width style with a slightly triangular shape.
3. Stay active
If you really want to stimulate the hair follicles, then staying active would be a great way to do so. This is because exercising gets your blood pumping, which then helps to stimulate hair follicle growth.
4. Get your beauty rest
Sleep is essential for a lot of things, including the health of your ‘stache. According to a study published in PNAS, lack of sleep, or poor sleep patterns, can affect hair growth.
With that said, make sure that you’re getting at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night so that your body can better rest and regenerate itself. If you’re battling with getting enough sleep, perhaps you could look into using essential oils?
5. Eat foods rich in B vitamins
The right foods can help to kickstart the hair growth that you’re looking for.
Foods rich in B vitamins, particularly vitamins B1, B7 (biotin), B6, and B12, are excellent for hair growth. These foods include salmon, nuts, oats, seeds, legumes, mushrooms, and cauliflower.
6. Manage your stress levels
According to a study published in the journal, stress doesn’t only affect hair growth, but it may also trigger hair loss. After the year we’ve had, a balding moustache is the last thing you want to deal with.
So, if you want to combat high-stress levels, try mediation, yoga, or other forms of stress-relieving techniques.
7. Regularly cleanse your face
A clean canvas can help to stimulate hair growth so it’s important that you keep your face clean. Be sure to wash your face twice a day, using a gentle cleanser. Don’t forget to exfoliate your face as removing dead skin cells can also help to stimulate hair growth.
In regards to product use, make sure to opt for products that are non-comedogenic, so as not to clog your pores as clogged pores can affect the growth of facial hair.
8. Exfoliate to prevent ingrown hairs
Ingrown hairs are hairs that are blocked from growing from growing properly as a result of clogged pores.
To keep your pores from getting clogged, it’s best to regularly exfoliate your face as this will help to remove any dead skin cells and thus reduce the risk of ingrown hairs.
9. Wash your moustache with shampoo
Admit it – you don’t wash your beard or moustache as often as you should, and when you do, you use bar soap 0 which only serves to dry out your facial hair and irritate your skin.
When it comes to shampooing your moustache, opt for a quality nourishing, sulfate-free moustache shampoo that helps moisturize your moustache and keep it from becoming brittle.
10. Condition your ‘stache weekly
Conditioning your moustache will help to lock in moisture, keep it soft and help prevent split ends.
Castor oil, or any other beard oil on the market, can be used as a conditioning treatment, helping to keep your moustache soft, as well as provide a fuller and shiny look.
11. Use the right grooming tools
The right tools can help to protect the health of your moustache. To keep your moustache happy, you’ll need small trimming scissors, a mini comb, as well as a precision razor to help with the trimming.
12. Comb It Out
A comb not only makes trimming easier, but it also helps to remove any loose hairs and keep the moustache looking neat and clean.
13. Happy Trimming
A good trim will help to keep your appearance clean clean. It’s important not to trim a wet moustache as doing so may cause you to trim more hair than you wanted to.
14. Wax it up
Even if you’re going for a natural look, using moustache wax can help to give your moustache some much-needs definition.
If you’re aiming for an up-wards twirl, rub the wax between your thumb and index finger and twirl the ends of your moustache.
What about split ends?
Split ends happen when the hair is dry or damaged. Unfortunately, the only way to deal with split ends is by cutting them off.
To do this, trim the dry or damaged hair on your moustache. Moving forward, make sure to keep your moustache moisturized and to drink enough water.
Face it!
Issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental illness and suicide are problems that plague our male population because of the unwillingness of men to speak about the problems they face.
If you’re not doing okay and experiencing issues, remember this happens to everyone at some point in their lives. It’s the ones who do something about it who come out on top. Talk to someone you trust and consider seeing a therapist for professional help.
Final thoughts
In addition to having the courage to engage in some tough conversations, Movember is also about taking responsibility for your health. Take control. Be proactive about your cancer risk. It’s your responsibility to ensure you have regular checkups with your doctor. Don’t let cancer get in the way of you living your best life!
The Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation is the global charity raising funds and awareness for men’s health. Every Movember we challenge men to grow and women to support a moustache, commit to move, or host an event, all of which raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health. We want to help men live longer, healthier and happier lives through investing in these key areas: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Since 2003, we’ve empowered over 5 million men and women to join the global men’s health movement. Through the moustaches grown, the connections created and the conversations generated, we’ve raised over $911 million and helped fund over 1,250 vital men’s health programs in more than 20 countries.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353087
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166993
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/77-0714052
