National No Beard Day is a holiday that falls on October 18th and celebrates a clean-shaven look. Although there are several holidays dedicated to celebrating beards, there are few that celebrate not having any facial hair at all. And that’s what makes this holiday a special one to observe. So make sure to grab your favorite razor, some of your favorite shaving cream, and celebrate this holiday with a clean-shaven mug.

Some Things You Might Not Know About Shaving

Since this holiday is dedicated to shaving off your beard, we thought it would be a good day to share some of the facts that we’ve learned about the act of shaving. We found the following tidbits while researching National No Beard Day, and we think that many of you are going to be entertained by these points.

Humans Have Been Shaving For Millennia

Historians believe that humans have been shaving for at least 7,000 years—if not longer. Some of the implements that early humankind used to shave included shark teeth, clamshells, and even flint. In 4,000 B.C., ancient Egyptians made some of the first razors out of copper and even sometimes solid gold.

Shaved Heads Were A Thing In Ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, it was also a fashion statement for people to shave their heads. This included not only men but also women. Shaving their heads allowed them to wear wigs that provided more protection against the sun’s rays than their natural hair.

Clean Shaven Goes Back To The Mid-19th Century

If you have ever wondered when people began to use the phrase “clean-shaven” to talk about men who don’t have beards, then you’ve come to the right place because we know the answer. The phrase “clean-shaven” goes back to the mid-19th century and was entered into the English dictionary in 1860. Now you know.

The Military Likes Clean Shaven Soldiers

Most of the militaries in the world require their soldiers to be clean-shaven, and this isn’t something new. This practice goes all the way back to 330 B.C. when Alexander the Great made it mandatory for all the soldiers under his command to be clean-shaven. This was to prevent enemy soldiers from grabbing their beards to pull them closer during battle and deliver a lethal blow.

Observing National No Beard Day

For those of you who are brave enough to try out this holiday, then all you have to do is shave off your beard on this day. After you’re cleanly shaven, you can then take a picture of your face and post it on social media using the hashtag #NationalNoBeardDay.