November means a lot of things for different people. Thanksgiving and turkey; the spectacular death throes of leaves clinging to trees; the sudden decrease in sunlight as temperatures plummet; and of course beards.

"Beards?" you say. Yes, beards. See, November is also home to a hallowed tradition known as the Novembeard ("No Shave November" in some regions, or "Beardvember"). The rule are simple. Don't shave, and try and grow the heartiest, manliest beard you can in the span of one month.

Leonidas is the patron saint of Beardvember

This is easier said than done, even though you have no control over it. See, some guys just can't grow a beard. The best you can squeeze out is a patchy tuft of fuzz on your lips and cheeks. Or worse – the dreaded neckbeard.

And for something entirely automatic, growing a beard is actually quite tough. To illustrate the self-discipline and emotional turmoil involved, I've (unsurprisingly) prepared a graph.

WEEK ONE:
As you can see, going into week one, you immediately question your decision as every day you look in the mirror and look like a slob. Your beard growth very well could be accidental; the result of a few long nights on campus spent tooling. By the end of the week though, it's clear that this is an intentional decision, and you enter the "Statham Stubble" region. Life is good, and you feel like doing all sorts of manly things like fixing motorcycles and blowing things up. "No problem, I've got this" you think. Words which you will regret in week two.

WEEK TWO
Around week two is when your beard decides it hates your face, and in an attempt to break free from your jaw it itches unbelievably bad. Nothing helps. It's a battle of determination to see whose will is strongest. You've got to break it like a wild stallion made of hair.

WEEK THREE
After about a week, it stops itching so much but you're faced with another problem. You're in the in-between zone of beard length and the beard has a bad tendency to stick out, making it look prickly and gross. a few days longer though and you've reached beard-vana. You've got a handsome patch of manliness that you can be proud of. It's a trophy and a sign of your commitment and masculinity.

WEEK FOUR
And that's when beard-induced delusion sets in. Your beard has grown on you (hurr hurr hurr), and the two of you are inseparable (ok I'll stop). You begin to think "Maybe I'll keep it, maybe I'll be one of those beard guys." This is the last half week or so of November, and you justify it to yourself any way you can. "It'll keep my face warm" you say. "You know not everyone can grow one" you say. "What if I have a beard tan line?". At the end of the week though, the strong persevere in the knowledge of what the Novembeard was: a fleeting experience, a journey cut too short, it's tragedy is it's beauty; and in the hum of the razor approaching your face, you see all of the things that the beard could've let you be:

A contestant on Survivor

A professor

A thug

A lumberjack.

But it just wasn't meant to be, and as you shear your face, watching the hair drift down like ash in the fallout, you catch a glimpse of something long forgotten: your cheeks. Your skin rises from the ashes of your beard's death like a glorious phoenix, and races up to greet your eager fingers. Smooth as a freshly shaved face, your mind races at the implications: "No more food stuck on my face! No more tickling my lips as I talk!"

"No more beard!"

Then, so brief as to be almost imperceptible, a moment of sadness. Resolute you nod in acceptance and pay your respects to all that the beard has given you. A moment of reflection shows just how much you've grown in your brief time together.

That is, until next year....

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

First!

Awesome graph! You do look older with beard though

Posted by: SR on December 1, 2010

I spy a potential energy landscape for beards!

Posted by: Corey on December 1, 2010

"Your beard has grown on you (hurr hurr hurr)"

I laughed too hard at that line.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to follow through with Novembeard this year. But there's always Manuary, an occasion for which Leonidas is but one patron saint

Posted by: Emad '14 on December 1, 2010

Hahahahaha. This was highly amusing. You grow a nice beard though!

Posted by: Seth Martin on December 1, 2010

Hi Chris,
1. I notice that you only blog at the beginning of each month. Is that intended or is it just a coincident?

2. Which one (week 1/2/3/4 or no beard) is your favorite?

By the way, you are one very attractive man. But I'm sure you know that already.

Posted by: 0 on December 1, 2010

I've been trying to grow one but I can't get the mustache the link with the rest!

Posted by: Marcel '15(?) on December 1, 2010

I hope you don't have a girlfriend, because she'll be punishing YOU in 3 months with No Make-up March!

Posted by: Vidya on December 2, 2010

Is anybody who helps me to admit to MIT here?

Posted by: Ted Kim on December 2, 2010

I'm in the "Statham Stubble" region right now...
let's see how this goes, it might be fun ;D

Posted by: Juan Manuel Martinez Aceves on December 2, 2010

Thank you for explaining to me the Novembeard. I just thought all the guys here were absentminded and forgot to shave. Also, I really loved the thug picture.

Posted by: Freshman on December 3, 2010

This is awesome! I have a friend who refused to shave his beard until our football team lost and he kept his beard for quite awhile!

Posted by: Ava'15? on December 3, 2010

Pearland Tejas?! Aw helll naw, wassup muh brothuh from anutha houston suburb?! Lol.

Posted by: michael wiggins on December 4, 2010

your week one beard was very hot on you, you should keep it. you look too young with a shaved face. week one was very handsome.

Posted by: gess on December 4, 2010

I absolutely loved this article All the pictures were awesome, especially the thug one.

Posted by: Kelli on December 4, 2010

"Jason Statham" stubble for me as well!
Your post is awesome, and your graph actually makes sense!
Good job!

Posted by: Hery '13 on December 4, 2010

with a beard, you look just like skylar

Posted by: Trent on December 5, 2010

FYI: You can totally rock the beard. It works.

Posted by: Josh on December 5, 2010

You survivors pic is hot! You should contemplate doing it more than once in a year!
And you are an awesome guy! Im sure you know that.
Cheers-

Posted by: Oye on December 6, 2010

Must have been a lot of fun for you....just one question..
"No more tickling my lips as I talk!"
Does that really happen...i have never kept a beard...must be annoying

Posted by: Aishwarya on December 6, 2010

lol..That was entertaining. You should definitely go for the week one beard. Appearance wise, it was the best look for you.

Posted by: Norah on December 7, 2010

Wow, you really looked like a thug in the thug picture. By the way, the beard suits you well. Maybe you should consider keeping it. Hilarious post.

Posted by: Ceesay on December 8, 2010

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