Best Shops For Movember Supplies In Chicago
Movember is not a typo. Mo is the Australian-English short version for mustache. November is male health awareness month. Put the two together and you have Movember, the time of year when males start growing a mustache on Nov. 1 to show support for male health. The mustache is a good reminder to guys to get a checkup and that early detection of prostate cancer and heart disease is important. Begun in Australia and England in 2004, Movember recognition has since spread around the globe. Click here for a United States Movember Foundation site which explains the why and wherefore.
Q Brothers
4718 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 989-0900
www.qbrothers.com
Look for the large red Q on the store's windows or look for Merz Apothecary, a Lincoln Square landmark. Q Brothers is a new extension of Merz, which has been adapting with the times while holding onto an old-fashioned approach to community needs since 1875. The Lincoln Square site, bought from Ralph Merz in 1972 by Abdul Quaiym, has retained its old world atmosphere while adapting to homeopathic solutions and supplements. However, current needs meant cutting a hole in a wall to expand into a neighboring store to carry hundreds of male grooming supplies. Thus Q Brothers was born on Black Friday 2014. This is a place to find lots of choices in men's facial shampoo, conditioners, oils, waxes and combs. The products help keep the new mustache looking neat, condition the whiskers and make the skin under it feel good. Q Brothers and Merz Apothecary supported Movember last year with a storefront full of mustache decorated hand mirrors and related items.
Chicago Male Salon
3418 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-6005
www.chicagomalesalon.com
The Chicago Male Salon in the Lakeview neighborhood is known for giving a great hair cut and feel-good hot towel facial treatments. But it also sells the products guys need to keep beards and mustaches conditioned and tidy. In addition, the shop, which by the way is under new ownership and management, supports Movember. It recently added mustache kits.
Old Town Barbershop
1339 N. Wells St., Second Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 573-3809
www.oldtownbarbershop.com
Go upstairs to visit the Old Town Barbershop. Located in the former Lakeshore Barbershop space, the new owners have renovated the site. They're good about styling hair and trimming beards to fit their clients. Indeed, this would b e a place to go if you already have a beard but want to trim it to divide into a mustache and beard in support of Movember. However, you can also just come to get oils, mustache wax and brushes.
Related: Chicago's Best Barbershops
Pete's Barber Shop
2873 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
(847) 345-4008
www.petesbarbarshopchicago.com
Visit Pete's in the Avondale neighborhood for its interesting, eclectic decor and large selection of grooming products. It's a cash-only place, but the products can be purchased online with a credit card. The barbers also say there is an ATM machine the next store over. They just have two chairs, so there may be a wait to pick up a product, but they are likely to have everything needed from shaving sets and razors to beard and mustache kits and accessories.
State Street Barbers
1545 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 787-7722
www.statestreetbarberchicagoil.com
A good place to go for expert advice and mustache products is State Street Barbers on North Wells Street. It is part of a local, independent chain of four shops. Mention Movember and the folks here are likely to respond with "no shave November." So you know they understand about growing a mustache to raise awareness about men's health. They carry everything you'll need, from waxes and oils to brushes and combs, plus other grooming products. They are also happy to talk about style and trimming.
Jodie Jacobs is a veteran journalist who loves writing about Chicago, art, theater, museums and travel. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
