Does facial hair distract from a fleeing hairline?

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Kevin Costner--seen on the red carpet for the premiere of his new flick, ‘Swing Vote’-- has adopted some interesting facial hair. With the triangle shaped goatee pointing downward, the observer’s eye is gently prodded south too. Perhaps to his open shirt, where even more chest hair begs for ogling? Maybe not. Costner has made great use of those honey-hued wisps that soften a hairline on the run.

Billy Bob Thornton also employed this tactic recently, with a copious tuft vomiting from his lower lip. I’m less enthralled with the overall effect. Over at GQ’s men.style.com, the style guy says: ‘Facial hair will undoubtedly distract the eye from your hairline.’

In that case, be sure to groom accordingly.

photos: Getty Images