All About the Irish Nose Shape: What It Is & Where It Comes From

The Irish nose is a nose shape defined by a profile that is curved slightly inward and a round, upturned tip. It’s believed to be common among people who have Irish ancestry. Curious to learn more? In this article, we’ll explore what the Irish nose is, where it comes from, and if it’s attractive, and take a deep dive into the Irish nose trend on TikTok (including the controversy surrounding it). Plus, we spoke with an Irish art and culture expert and board-certified plastic surgeons for their insights.

The Irish Nose Shape

An image showing what the Irish nose looks like.

Irish art and culture expert Mark Weiser says the Irish nose is short and straight, with a bump on the bridge, giving it a slightly curved shape. The tip is round and turns up slightly. The Irish nose is most common among people who are ethnically Irish or have Irish ancestry.

Section 1 of 8:

What is the Irish nose?

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The Irish nose is a straight or slightly curved nose with a rounded, upturned tip. The Irish nose most commonly refers to a nose with a medium-to-high bridge and moderate projection. It often has a straight profile with a slight bump along the bridge, giving it a convex shape. The tip is rounded or slightly bulbous, and usually slightly upturned. It’s also a moderate width (neither very narrow nor very wide) and on the shorter side.
- The Irish nose also typically has prominent nostrils and medium-thick skin.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Mark Weiser is an Irish art and culture expert and the gallery manager for DKW Art Gallery in Marion, Iowa. He creates carved slate and wood pieces inspired by Irish and Celtic art.

Usha Rajagopal, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the medical director of the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center. She has over 20 years of experience.

Asif Pirani, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of the Toronto Plastic Surgery Center in Toronto, Canada.

Section 2 of 8:

Where does the Irish nose come from?

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The Irish nose is associated with people who have Irish or Celtic ancestry. Unsurprisingly, the Irish nose hails from Ireland, an island country in Northern Europe. The Irish people have a genetically diverse background due to the various waves of migration to the island, starting with settlers from the Mesolithic Age. Their ancestors include the Celtic, Viking, and Anglo-Norman peoples.^{[1]
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Nature
Respected Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal

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- As board-certified plastic surgeon Usha Rajagopal, MD, explains, “the shape of the nose is very different in different ethnicities.” She notes that people with Northern European ancestry tend to have a slimmer nose, smooth profile, and an upturned tip (sometimes called a button nose).^{[2]
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  Usha Rajagopal, MD
  Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
  
  Expert Interview}
- The reason why noses are shaped differently across different ethnicities largely comes down to evolution, says Dr. Rajagopal. She explains that noses are adapted to different climates, with people from colder areas having different-shaped noses than people from warm and dry areas.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Usha Rajagopal, MD
  Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 3 of 8:

What does the Irish nose represent?

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Since the Irish nose is common in people with Irish ancestry, it’s considered a powerful symbol of your unique background. It represents your pride in being Irish and recognizes your innate resilience, wit, and warmth. Plus, the Irish nose’s unique shape celebrates your individuality and authenticity.

Section 4 of 8:

Is the Irish nose attractive?

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Yes, lots of people consider the Irish nose attractive. With its straight but slightly curved profile and round, upturned tip, many believe the Irish nose has a beautiful softness to it. The common hump along the bridge also adds a unique charm. Plus, it’s considered a beautiful symbol of someone’s Irish heritage.
- It’s important to remember that beauty is subjective and varies from person to person. Ultimately, no nose shape is more beautiful than the others!

Section 5 of 8:

What is the Irish nose trend on TikTok?

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The Irish nose trend involves people sharing what their “Irish nose” looks like. The TikTok trend largely involves Americans with Irish ancestry posting videos or photos of their Irish nose. The trend is a way for people to take pride in their unique noses and connect with their roots. For instance, this video by @atlasxanatomy shows her showing off the front and profile views of her nose with the caption, “This is what a natural Irish nose looks like.”
- People with Irish ancestry are loving the trend because they’re seeing people celebrate a nose that looks just like theirs! On some videos, commenters are sharing that they’re starting to love their Irish nose because they’re seeing people take pride in theirs.
- Weiser agrees, saying that many people are proud of their Irish nose because it means they have Irish heritage.^{[4]
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  Mark Weiser
  Irish Art and Culture Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- The trend is also a way for people to oppose beauty standards and celebrate their unique features. The Irish nose is considered a “stronger” nose compared to the less prominent, ski-slope nose, which is largely seen as “conventionally attractive.”

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What is the Irish nose controversy?

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There’s some controversy about whether the Irish nose is really a thing. Many people from Ireland aren’t too convinced that there’s an “Irish nose,” and claim that this is something Americans made up. For instance, Irish content creator @niamhoconnnor posted a video captioned, “Dear America: There is no such thing as an Irish nose. You made it up. Love from Ireland.” Lots of commenters on Niamh’s video agree, saying that they’ve never heard anyone refer to their nose as an Irish nose.
- Some Irish TikTokers say that because Ireland is so genetically mixed, there’s no one “Irish nose.”
- Some people from Ireland are offended by the trend and see it as a way for Americans to claim that they’re Irish, even though they didn’t grow up in Ireland or only have distant Irish ancestry.
- Other TikTokers are pushing back against this idea. For instance, @yvanabee made a video saying that because people can be ethnically Irish, there are likely shared traits among people with Irish ancestry, which can include nose shape.
- Many American commenters agree with @yvanabee’s video. They note that while their nationality is American, they still have Irish ancestry and have features in common with people from Ireland.
- Weiser cautions, “Some people do not like to be categorized by physical attributes.” He adds that over time, geographical characteristics have become blurred, but that “many ethnic and geographical areas might have characteristics that lend themselves to observation—at least, part of the time.”^{[5]
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  Mark Weiser
  Irish Art and Culture Expert
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 7 of 8:

What are other common Irish features?

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People who are ethnically Irish often have shared physical features. For instance, they often have fair skin with a rosy complexion and freckles.^{[6]
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Research source} Wavy dark hair is the most common hair type, though red hair is largely associated with Ireland (as it has the highest population of people with red hair!).^{[7]
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Section 8 of 8:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Does the Irish nose look different between men and women? While the Irish nose is mostly the same between men and women, there are often a few differences. Weiser says men tend to have larger and wider noses, while women have smaller and narrower ones. Men might also have a more bulbous tip that becomes more prominent as they age, and they may have a bump in the ridge of their nose.^{[8]
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Mark Weiser
Irish Art and Culture Expert

Expert Interview}
- Dr. Rajagopal notes that the shape and size of the nose often depend on someone’s gender.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Usha Rajagopal, MD
  Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
  
  Expert Interview}
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How do you know if you have Irish ancestry? The easiest way to determine if you have Irish ancestry is to trace your genealogy. Ask your family members about your ancestry, look for your family records online, or do a DNA test.
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What are the other common types of noses? There are several different types of noses that have distinct and unique shapes. Some of the most common types include:
- The Roman nose (also known as the aquiline nose) is prominent and long, with a slight bump along the bridge.
- The Greek nose is long and straight, with a pointed tip.
- The Nubian nose is long and starts with a narrow top that widens at the tip.
- The East Asian nose is broad and flat, with prominent nostrils.
- The button nose is small, round, and upturned at the tip.
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How can I change the shape of my nose? Contouring your nose with contour and highlighter can subtly change the shape of your nose. According to board-certified plastic surgeon Asif Pirani, MD, there are also non-surgical and surgical ways to change the shape of your nose. He says dermal filler can help shape the bridge and tip of the nose temporarily, while a surgical rhinoplasty is a more permanent method.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Asif Pirani, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview}