Ryan O’Bryan Will Make Another Pitiful Attempt at Facial Hair During No Shave November

Another November has rolled around and Deaconess Hospital has asked me to once again be a part of their annual No Shave November. You can see how well it went the last time.

I have mentioned numerous times in previous blogs that genetics are not in my favor when it comes to not only growing facial hair, but any hair really in places where it is socially acceptable for men to have it. I come from a long line of men on both sides of my family who have faced the same struggle. My legs and arms are for the most part barren, and I have somehow managed to get a little on my chest. But when it comes to my face, getting anything that even closely resembles a beard takes weeks of patience that ultimately isn't worth it because it looks like — well, like this:

That picture is from the end of last year's No Shave November meaning that after 30 days, that's the best my body could do. As you can see, it comes in patchy, and the majority of it grows along my jawline and down my next. Think Andrew Luck, but less thick.

Not that I'm aspiring to grow an Andrew Luck neck beard. Personally, I think it looks ridiculous, but to each his own. What I would like the ability to do is to grow enough that I could trim it to look like something that resembles a beard. The problem is, it's so thin in places where it needs to be thicker so people can actually see it without having to be so close they could kiss me, that when I trim it, it practically disappears.

Don't get me wrong, it some ways it's a blessing. I only need to shave maybe two to three times a week, if that often, which saves me money on razors and shaving cream. For example, I opened the last of an eight pack of disposable razors I think I bought a year ago for my final shave until December 1st.

So why am I doing it then? Because it's for a good cause, that's why. The whole point of No Shave November is to "grow" awareness (their pun, not mine) for men's cancers such as testicular and prostate, the latter of which is the second most common form of cancer in  men.

Hopefully as guys like myself put down the razor for a month it will remind and encourage other men to see their doctor and get regular cancer screenings. If my pitiful attempt at a beard can get at least one other guy to go see his doctor, then me looking goofy for 30 days will be worth it.

I'll post pictures here on the site throughout the month so you can see how I'm progressing. Wish me luck.

For more information on No Shave November, including on how to participate, visit the Deaconess Hospital website.