The Best Celebrity Facial Hair

Sometimes, bad facial hair happens to good people. I mean, come on, does anyone not remember that time Brad Pitt seemed to be growing things inside that frightening mess that was living on top of that lovely face of is. Remember how we all prayed that it was for some role where he was playing a hobo of sorts and that he would just hurry up and get done with filming so we could take a gander at his prettypunim again?

Because when THIS:

Became this:

_prphotos.com

We all breathed a sigh of relief and were thankful that Mr. Pitt found himself a really good shaver. Because some men look their best with a clean, close shave. *swoon*

And who could forget the actor-turned-rapper Joaquin Phoenix and his infamous stint on Letterman. I’m not going to lie to you here, I still have nightmares from his scraggly days.

So, sure, there are many, many cases of facial hair gone very wrong…Jason Bateman, Hugh Jackman, Jim Carrey, Christopher Plummer, every single athlete to ever play any sport in the history of sports.

It’s easy to remember these. Obviously, none of these men have heard of the The Philips SensoTouch 3D.

But what about those celebrity faces that actually look HOTTER with a little scruff—or at least equally as attractive? Sometimes it makes a person look a little less baby-faced, sometimes it adds character, sometimes it adds some much-needed definition, and sometimes it’s just undeniably sexy.

I am a fan of the right kind of facial hair on a man—I am even currently forcing my husband to grow a beard. 

But did you know that there are some rules when it comes to facial hair—and more importantly, your mustache or goatee or soul patch or mutton chops or beards say a lot about you:

And just like clothing and hairstyles on Hollywood actresses set the stage for fashion and trends across the board, men are heavily influenced by the facial hair that they are seeing in movies, on tv, and on red carpets. And it seems like everyone who is anyone is experitmenting with some facial hair these days. And sometimes they just get it right.

Behold, here are my picks for my 5 favorite celebrity beards:

1. Hugh Jackman. This beard. Not the Jean Valjean one, obviously. 

2. Nick Offerman. There is no debating this one, folks. I mean, Ron Swanson needs his 'stache. It's the Tom Selleck effect, really.

3. Ryan Gosling. It's a Notebook Noah showdown! Do you prefer him all clean-cut and clean-shaven...or did you prefer him when he was all house-buildy, broody, and unsculpted?

4. Ben Affleck. Before the beard, Affleck was just the other half of Ben and Matt. With a beard, though? HOT. How do you like them apples?

5. Charlie Hunnam. See also: The entire cast of Sons of Anarchy. RAWR.

(Honorable mentions: Dumbledore and that time that Ewan McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi)

What about you?? Who do you think rocks the facial fuzz?

And do you wish your man could look like one of these celebrity hotties? If so, we're helping beautify the men in our lives with our latest contest, see details below!

Want to help the man in your life put his best properly-groomed face forward this Father's Day—I know that I'm picking up a The Philips SensoTouch 3D for my husband. For him. Or, you know, for me.

And here are some more great celebrity-inspired stylish Father's Day gifts for the man in your life.