Dealing with the facial hair frenzy

Fall can be a confusing time for several reasons: “Do I need a winter coat or will a jacket suffice? Will I go to bed with a view of red and yellow leaves and wake up to three inches of snow? When will this semester be over? Why are my neighbors putting up Christmas lights already?”
Amid all this confusion, I find myself asking another question that may be the most important of all: where are all the beards coming from?
Yeah, I get it, it’s No Shave November. What started as small subculture has since become mainstream, and even at Idaho State University, it’s easy to see that the number of beards on campus has skyrocketed in the past two weeks.
This poses a problem for me. I consider myself a bit of a beard connoisseur. I’d venture to say that most people who know me discover my affinity for beards within the hour. I’m on the lookout for sweet facial hair year-round, and all of a sudden they’re everywhere I turn.
All month long it’s impossible for me to tell if someone is a spontaneous beard-grower or a full-time facial hair enthusiast like me. I think a lot of regular mustached and bearded men get used to the facial hair compliments and double-takes thrown their way by passing strangers, but I’m not so sure the once-a-year lumberjack is prepared for that sort of attention.
What it comes down to is this: I’m pretty sure I spend most of November looking like a Level 10 creep.
Whether you’re a Mo Bro growing out your ‘stache to promote awareness and raise money for men’s health (you can read more about the Kappa Sigmas, who participate in Movember, on page 3) or just a guy trying to keep your face warm, it’s likely that I’ve tried to get a better look at your facial hair.
I would probably do well to try to keep this bad habit in check because I know it’s rude to stare, but the influx of beard this month tends to catch me off guard. Rather than No Shave November, I ought to be working on No Stare November.
Fortunately, my impoliteness always seems to be well-received, if not completely welcomed.
Are you growing a neat beard, mustache, goatee or other facial hair project? “The Bengal” staff would love to see! Feel free to post them to our Facebook at www.facebook.com/isubengal.
In the meantime, keep growin’ and please excuse me if I stare.