My November hair-raising adventure

By Bernard Mendelman, October 31st, 2012

It's been years since I've grown a moustache, but I plan to start growing one on Nov. 1 and keep it for the whole month in honour of Movember, the movement that makes us aware of men's health diseases, specifically prostate cancer. According to Prostate Cancer Canada, the disease is the most common type of cancer among Canadian men, affecting approximately one in seven. Movember, started in 2004 in Melbourne Australia, has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.9 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate with formal campaigns world-wide. Last year Canadians put their money where their mouth was (actually on the upper lip above their mouth) collecting a record $38 million from more than 245,000 contributors for this cause, becoming the world's leading country in Movember donations. Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, now running for leadership of his party, sported a Zoro-esque goatee and moustache combo and said that $70,000 was raised by the MPs who took part in the campaign.
This year Gillette will be added as a Movember sponsor. Along with making a large donation, Gillette, for the month, will turn its shop on London's Carnaby Street into a 1940s style barbers shop, offering participating “Mo Bros” free “tache touch ups” as part of its support. The shop will also serve as a “gentleman's club” with a bar and games room where visitors can play traditional “gentlemanly pastimes” such as poker, backgammon, chess, ping pong and pool. In addition the shop will host a number of exclusive events for supporters of Movember including whisky tastings, gigs, live entertainment and cocktail nights. The campaign is a departure for Gillette from its customary format of featuring sport celebrities focusing on shaving, using their products.
When it comes to shaving, I hate it, but I have accepted it as one of the nuisances I have to put up with every day. For years I avoided shaving by growing a beard. But once my robust black beard became scraggy and grey, I decided to shave it off.
Now, I'm considering what kind off moustache to grow. For sure it won't be one like artist Salvador Dali had. Dali was a colourful and imposing presence in his long cape, walking stick, haughty expression, and upturned waxed moustache. It certainly won't be the toothbrush one that Adolf Hitler had, although his was once acceptable when movie star Charlie Chaplin wore it as part of his Little Tramp costume. Neither do I desire to be seen in a Dr. Fu Manchu's moustache.  So popular was his that Fu Manchu's name evolved into the actual name for his type of moustache - a full one that extends downward past the mouth and on either side of the chin hanging past the jaw line with pointed or tapered ends. Groucho Marx's glasses, nose, and moustache have become icons of comedy, but it's not for me. I kind of like a handlebar moustache, not like Hulk Hogan, nor the unkempt bushy one that Gene Shalit the film and book critic displayed, but more like the groomed one of baseball hall-of-famer, Rollie Fingers. But my first choice of moustache would be similar to movie star Tom Selleck's who I think pulls off a moustache better than any other member of the male species.
Nowadays most men show some form of facial hair- if not full beards, its moustaches, goatees, chinstraps, or soul patches. The public seems to accept all kinds of facial hair, except on politicians. Abraham Lincoln, with his beard garnered respect, but now if a politician is not clean shaven, we think he is hiding something and can't be trusted. I can't remember the last time we had a Canadian Prime Minister or a U.S. President with a moustache or beard.
Comedian, actor, W.C. Fields once revealed, “All the men in my family were bearded and most of the women.” So I welcome both males and females to join me in my hair-raising adventure on Nov. 1.
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