November is regularly the month dedicated to men’s health. The Movember campaign highlights critical issues like suicide prevention, testicular and prostate cancer, while also raising funds to support men’s health initiatives. Participants, also called Mo-bros, start November clean shaven and let their moustaches grow throughout the month raising money through sponsorship. It’s a simple yet impressive way to champion a worthy cause, turning heroically hirsute faces into symbols of awareness and support.
If a moustache isn’t your style, there’s also No-Shave November, which is more general and inclusive, encouraging people to put away their razors for the month and donate the money that would otherwise have gone on shaving, trimming, and styling to help cancer charities.
So, whether you’re doing a Movember or a No-Shave November, we’ve combed through our collection for some suitable inspiration. After all, it’s not just about growing, but grooming and styling as well.
Below, you’ll find a wide array of whiskers, a multitude of moustaches and a bevy of beards, not to mention a flurry of face furniture to inspire you.
We’ve got them in painter’s brush…
(L to r) Self-Portrait, 1927, by W H Wilkinson,
Self Portrait, 1939, by Ian Grant
Portrait of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1853, by William Holman Hunt,
William Charles Alexander Gibbon, 1927, by James Gibbon,
Self Portrait, 1895, by Charles Conder. All © Manchester Art Gallery.
And we have them in pencil moustaches…
(l to r) Professor A E Houseman, c.1916, by Sir William Rothenstein,
Rt Hon James Ramsey MacDonald, 1923, by Sir William Rothenstein,
G. K. Chesterton,1922, by Sir William Rothenstein,
Aldous Huxley, 1922, by Sir William Rothenstein
Eric Kennington, 1916, by Sir William Rothenstein. All © Manchester Art Gallery.
(l to r) Rudyard Kipling, 1898, by William Strang,
Copy of a 17th century portrait, c. 1840, by the circle of William Bradley,
Portrait of Carl Fucks Playing a Yealand, 1937, by Maria Elizabeth Brockbank
Bust of a Young Man with Small Moustache, c.1840, by William Bradley (circle of),
Head of a Middle-Aged Man with Moustache, Quiff and Pince Nez, c.1840, by William Bradley (circle of)
All © Manchester Art Gallery
Then there’s our rarely seen collection of cabinet photographs and carte-de-visite cards showcasing some truly inspirational facial hair…
(l to r) Cabinet Photograph of Sir Ernest Tritton. Bart / M.P. for Norwood Div of Lambeth by Bullingham, c.1890,
Cabinet Photograph of W. Strickland (1890-1900),
Cabinet Photograph 2008-40-6-162 (1890-1900),
Cabinet photograph 2008.40.6.152 by F Preece (1890-1900),
Cabinet photograph by W E Debenham (1890-1900)
Carte-de Visite photograph 2008.40.5.1263 by E. Passingham (1870-1880)
Carte-de-Visite photograph 2008.40.5.1218 by John Moffat (1870-1880)
Carte-de-Visite photograph 2008.40.5. 1307 by Alexander Bassano (1870-1880)
All © Manchester Art Gallery
So, choose your style, start grooming that facial hair and maybe someone will record your fashion sense for posterity!
Ts & Cs apply (Trimmings and Conditionings) *
*Manchester Art Gallery is not responsible whatsoever for the upkeep of your facial furniture, or the general reaction to it. All moustaches, beards and sideburns depicted herein, in whatever combination, are styled at your own risk.