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Short answer: Movember is an annual November campaign in which men grow moustaches to raise funds and awareness for men's health, including prostate and testicular cancers, mental health and suicide prevention. You start the month clean-shaven on November 1, grow a moustache, and ask friends and family to sponsor you.
Movember is also a good prompt to look after yourself. This guide explains what the campaign supports, how to grow and care for a moustache through the month, how to start a conversation about men's health, and which check-ups are worth asking your doctor about.
Key takeaways
- Movember raises funds and awareness for men's mental health and suicide prevention, and for prostate and testicular cancers.
- Start clean-shaven on November 1 and grow a moustache for the month. You can also move, host an event or "Mo Your Own Way".
- Moustache care is simple: wash daily with a gentle cleanser, moisturize, and use a few drops of beard oil once the hair is in.
- Use the month to ask your doctor about check-ups and to check in on how you are doing.
- If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 in Canada, at any time.
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Shop Now →What does Movember support?
Movember supports three areas of men's health: mental health and suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancers. It began as a conversation between friends in Australia in 2003 and is now a global men's health charity, and Movember says it has funded more than AUD $1.8 billion in prevention-focused work. In practice, the money and awareness it raises go toward:
- Support for men's mental health and suicide prevention.
- Support for prostate cancer research and programs for men living with it.
- Support for testicular cancer awareness and early detection.
Movember Canada is a registered charity. Movember is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor, but it keeps these topics in the open.
Why does a grooming brand care about men's health?
Grooming is a small daily habit that puts you face to face with your own skin, and small habits can make bigger ones easier. A few minutes spent looking after your face can also make it easier to spot something unusual and mention it to a doctor. A routine is not a check-up, and no product replaces one, but the habit of paying attention can carry over: if you already make time for a morning routine, booking an appointment or texting a friend who has gone quiet can start to feel normal too. That is why we stand behind Movember's goal of getting men to talk about their health.
How do you grow a Movember moustache?
Sign up on the Movember website or in the Movember app, choose Grow, and start the month completely clean-shaven on November 1. Movember's rules describe a traditional Mo as one that ideally does not join your sideburns or cross your chin. If you already have a moustache, a common way to kick off fundraising is to ask friends and family to sponsor you to shave it off on November 1, then grow it back through the month. Our Ready for Movember guide goes deeper on enjoying the month. Here is the month at a glance:
| Week | Dates | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 1–7 | Start clean | Shave clean, wash daily, moisturize |
| 2 | November 8–14 | Build coverage | Add beard oil and a little balm, comb the hairs the way you want them to lie |
| 3 | November 15–21 | Define the shape | Trim the lip line, keep the sides full |
| 4 | November 22–30 | Finish | Tidy up, take a photo, shave it off or keep it |
What should you do in weeks 1 and 2?
Week 1: start clean (November 1–7)
Shave clean on November 1, since the Mo has to grow from scratch during the month. Expect some prickle from short, stiff new hairs. Wash your face daily with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and moisturize while the skin is still slightly damp. While it is still stubble, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests a moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher. Once there is enough hair to cover the skin, switch to beard oil if your skin is normal to dry. Use it sparingly: about four drops, worked into the hair and the skin beneath, and more only if needed.
Week 2: coverage begins (November 8–14)
Growth rates vary a lot from man to man, so do not worry if yours is still at the stubble stage. Keep up the daily routine and add a very small amount of beard balm, applied with a fingertip and shaped with a fine comb, to start training the hairs. Moustache hair often grows downward and outward from the centre, so combing it that way early makes shaping easier later. People will start to notice, so have a short answer ready about why you are doing it.
What should you do in weeks 3 and 4?
Week 3: definition (November 15–21)
The moustache is now clearly visible, so start shaping it:
- Define the lip line: use a sharp trimmer to clean up the hairs growing onto the lip itself. A line that follows the natural lip border looks intentional without being fussy.
- Keep the width: let it reach the corners of the mouth through the month, and tidy only the outer edges. The goal is fullness, not thinness.
- Use your products: oil in the morning to condition the hair, and a small amount of balm if you want a more shaped look.
Week 4: the finished Mo (November 22–30)
By November 30, four weeks of growth, properly cared for and shaped, reads as a deliberate choice whether it is full or sparse. The statement is about commitment, not volume. Tidy the lip line, tame the sides, and use a little balm to hold the shape through the day. On November 30, take a photo for your fundraising page and shave it off, or keep it.
How do you start a conversation about men's health?
A moustache gives people a reason to ask, and every question is a chance to talk about men's health without a lecture. A simple line is enough: "It's for Movember. I'm raising money for men's health, including prostate and testicular cancers and mental health. You can sponsor me on the Movember website." Often that leads somewhere real: a worry someone has been sitting on, or a story about a father, uncle or friend.
If someone you know seems to be struggling, it is not your job to fix anything. Make it clear that the topic is safe to talk about, and listen. Listening matters more than having the right words.
How common are these three issues for men in Canada?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Canada (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers), and the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 9 men will develop it in their lifetime, so talk to your doctor about screening.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 35, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, and when it is found and treated early the chances of successful treatment are better, so see a doctor about any lump, tenderness or other change.
In Canada, suicide rates are about three times higher among men than among women, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8; support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
Which health checks are worth asking your doctor about?
Four checks are worth raising: prostate screening, your testicles, your mental health, and your blood pressure and cholesterol. None of this replaces advice from your own doctor, so talk to your doctor about what is right for you.
| Check | What to know |
|---|---|
| Prostate | Talk to your doctor about whether a PSA blood test is right for you; the Canadian Cancer Society suggests considering testing from age 50 at average risk, or age 45 at higher risk, which includes Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer. |
| Testicles | Get to know what is normal for you, ideally after a warm bath or shower, and see a doctor about any lump, tenderness or other change. |
| Mental health | Check in on how you are doing, and talk to a doctor, a counsellor or someone you trust. In Canada, you can call or text 9-8-8 at any time. |
| Blood pressure and cholesterol | Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, so it is important to know your numbers. High cholesterol has no symptoms either, and only a blood test can detect it, so ask your doctor how often you should be checked. |
Which Knightsmen Grooming products suit a Movember moustache?
Our beard oils and balms suit a Movember moustache: they are COSMOS-certified organic and handcrafted in small batches in Toronto. Organic Beard Oil | Classic is fragrance-free, the scented oils come in Sandalwood, Cedarwood and African Musk, and Organic Beard Balm | Classic is the fragrance-free balm. The Beard Growth Starter Kit pairs a beard oil with a beard balm, and you can also browse our beard oils and beard balms one by one. We stand behind Movember's goal of getting men to talk about their health. Grow something, talk about something, and take your health seriously, not just in November.
Frequently asked questions
What is Movember?
Movember is an annual campaign in November in which men grow moustaches to raise funds and awareness for men's health, including prostate and testicular cancers, mental health and suicide prevention. It began as a conversation between friends in Australia in 2003 and now runs around the world, including in Canada, where Movember Canada is a registered charity.
How do I take part in Movember?
Sign up on the Movember website or in the Movember app and choose Grow. Set up your profile, start the month clean-shaven on November 1, grow a moustache, and share your page to ask for donations. If a moustache is not for you, you can choose to move, host a Mo-ment or Mo Your Own Way, or simply donate.
Where does Movember money go?
Movember says the money it raises supports men's health in three areas: mental health and suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancers. It says it has funded more than AUD $1.8 billion in prevention-focused work, and it publishes financial information on its website for anyone who wants a current breakdown.
How do I keep my moustache from looking unkempt?
Wash the area daily with a gentle cleanser and moisturize while the skin is still slightly damp. A few drops of beard oil keep the hair soft, and a little beard balm lets you shape the moustache and train the direction of the hairs. Define the lip line with a trimmer about once a week. The goal is to look as if you chose the moustache, not as if you forgot to shave. See our guides to using beard oil and washing your beard.
What beard oil should I use for a Movember moustache?
Choose an oil that suits your skin and your taste in scent. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests beard oil for normal to dry skin and a fragrance-free moisturizer for sensitive skin. Knightsmen's organic beard oils are COSMOS-certified, handcrafted in small batches in Toronto with jojoba and argan oils, and they ship the same day when ordered before 12 pm ET, Monday to Friday.
Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or sudden changes in your hair, see a doctor or dermatologist.
