You can’t deny standing in front of the mirror, trying to take a closer peek at your nose from different angles.
Projecting at the centre of your face, your nose plays an important role in the achievement of facial harmony. If you want to find out what shape your nose has, you can look at different types of noses.
No one can deny being curious about the shape of their nose. This is because, for a long time, it’s been believed that the shape of the nose can be indicative of luck, wealth, health, and even someone’s personality (which we found to be true!).
So, let’s find out the different nose shapes so you can see which one you have. But first, you should become familiar with the anatomy of the nose itself.
What Is The Anatomy Of The Nose?
Your nose is a part of your respiratory system. By filtering the air of dust particles and germs, it allows you to breathe clean air. It also warms and moistens the air before sending it to the lungs.
And, of course, one cannot forget that it helps you in smelling things, which doesn’t just tantalise the taste buds but also has evolutionary significance.
Sitting at the centre of the face, your nose is a complex structure, but for the sake of understanding just its shape, you need to be aware of the following terms:
- Nasal Bridge – Nasal bridge is the area where most people notice the presence of a hump or bump. However, not everyone has this bump. Some people have a straight and smooth bridge, while others have a slight curve. It’s located slightly below the glabella (the area between the eyebrows).
- Nasal Ridge – Often confused with the nasal bridge, the nasal ridge is the area that extends from slightly above the nasal bridge right above the tip of the nose. The nasal ridge is also referred to as the dorsum.
- Nasal Tip – Right below the nasal ridge starts the nasal tip, which extends all the way down to the columella (the tissue that separates the nostrils).
- Nasal Base – The base of the nose is the area that includes the nostrils, columella, and the alar lobule (the rounded area on the outside of the nostrils). It is, as the name suggests, the base of the nose. You can also think of it as the width of the nose at the bottom.
Keep in mind that these are just a few anatomical considerations.
The underlying skeletal structure, cartilage, and thickness of your skin play an important role in determining its overall shape.
There are even differences between genders; male noses are slightly larger (5.5 cm) than female noses (5 cm). The combination of these factors results in different types of noses.
What Are The Different Types of Noses?
Based on almost 1800 pictures taken from artworks and photographs taken in various locations, a study published in The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery identified 14 types of noses.
The problem with this study is that it only includes Caucasian noses, but our list will also include the noses of people of different ethnicities.
That’s because, according to another study published in the Seminars in Plastic Surgery, your race influences the shape of your nose.
Caucasians have a “narrow nose,” Africans have a “flat nose,” and Asians’ nose is somewhere in between these two.
So, that’s why it’s important to take ethnicity into consideration when identifying different nose shapes, which are as follows:
The Fleshy Nose
A nose is considered “fleshy” when there’s a greater concentration of skin in the bottom half of the nose.
The tip can almost look bulbous, and it points down towards the lips. Usually, this type of nose is long and appears fatty.
It is one of the most common nose types in men and women, and according to Abraham Tamir’s study, 24.2% of people have this very nose.
Barbara Streisand had a fleshy nose before she had a nose job. Einstein is another famous example of it.
The Greek Nose
You might’ve heard of the phrase “sculpted like a Greek god.” It’s not just the physique, but the faces of Grecian statues were also quite perfect. And their nose is straight as an arrow.
The other name for a Greek nose is straight nose because there are no bumps on the bridge or the ridge.
According to the study mentioned above, almost 3% of people have this nose (but keep in mind that the sample only included Caucasians).
A famous example of this nose type is Jennifer Anniston, but you can also see it in supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
Nixon Nose
It’s really in the name. Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, had a remarkably unique nose. You’ll find many caricatures of it online.
A significantly projected tip, wide base, and visible nostrils characterise the Nixon nose. The ridge is smooth and slightly inclined. This nose type is very rare.
In fact, Tamir’s study found that only 0.8% of people had this.
The Celestial Nose
Considered one of the most beautiful and desirable nose types, the celestial nose is marked by the presence of a slight dip in the nasal ridge.
This is then followed by a small, upturned tip. Usually, such noses are thin. Emma Stone and Carey Mulligan are a few celebs who have this nose.
The Roman Nose
The Roman or aquiline nose is characterised by the presence of a prominent bridge. A bump protrudes from the nose, and the nasal ridge slopes steeply downward.
The nose appears bent at the top half. But the nasal tip at the bottom is pointed slightly upward.
Ryan Gosling and Danial Radcliff have this nose type.
The Nubian Nose
The Nubian nose is most common in people of African descent. This type of nose has a wide bridge and a wide base with visible nostrils.
The curvature of the tip is not pronounced; it almost seems to be a part of the nasal ridge.
Celebrities like Zendaya, Zoe Saldana, and Beyonce have this nose.
The Snub Nose
A snub nose is usually small with a rounded, upturned nasal tip. The snub nose is also called the button nose because of how rounded the tip appears to be.
It is also one of the more desired nose shapes. One of the most famous celebrities to have a snub nose is Elizabeth Taylor.
Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, and the Princess of Wales also have this nose.
The Hawk Nose
The hawk nose is so-called because its shape resembles the beak of a hawk. This nose type also has a prominent bridge, and the ridge itself is quite concave.
Seen from the front, the tip of the nose appears to hang downwards, hiding the columella. Actor Adrian Brody has a hawk nose.
Bumpy Nose
An irregular nasal ridge makes up for a bumpy nose. You can more clearly see it from the side profile of the nose.
Many people who have this nose type request a rhinoplasty to smooth out the bridge and the ridge.
For instance, the actor Owen Wilson has a distinctly bumpy nose.
Bulbous Nose
A large, fleshy lower half is the hallmark of a bulbous nose. The nasal tip also seems swollen and droopy.
However, the tip juts significantly from the rest of the nose, making it quite prominent. It is possible for people with bulbous noses to have a condition known as rhinophyma.
It makes the skin of the nose look thick due to the enlargement of the oil glands. Bill Clinton famously has this nose.
East Asian Nose
An East Asian nose is usually small with a flat bridge. The tip is rounded and the nostrils appear somewhat flared.
Other than that, just like people of African descent, Asians also tend to have thicker skin, which affects the overall nose shape.
Is It Possible To Change Your Nose Type?
You can drastically change the shape, size and profile of your nose through rhinoplasty. Keep in mind that rhinoplasty is cosmetic surgery, so it won’t fix any functional problems like breathing.
For that, you’d need another surgery known as septoplasty. However, it’s also possible to combine rhinoplasty with septoplasty in what’s known as septorhinoplasty.
The idea of telling you about different types of noses isn’t that one nose shape is better than the other. Having a large, projected nose doesn’t mean that it’s unattractive.
But sometimes, people feel that their nose doesn’t complement their other facial features. And it can make their nose undesirable to them.
Physical trauma or congenital anomalies on the nose can also prompt you to have a nose job.
If only subtle changes are needed, even fillers can help, but for a more dramatic change, you can consider getting a nose job.
Concluding Remarks
Your facial features make you unique, and your nose is a part of it. No wonder there are so many different types of noses.
They may also be a combination of two or more shapes. No one nose shape is better than the other, but more commonly, people desire the celestial, snub or Greek nose.
That is also what they hope to achieve through a nose job. If you also want a different nose shape, make sure to get in touch with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
