Button nose

What is a button nose?

Three things together: the nose is short, it does not stick out far, and the tip is round and small. The tip is the button the name refers to.

Unlike a snub nose, the tip does not lift much. Unlike a bulbous nose, the round tip is small compared with the rest of the face.

Signs you have a button nose

• In a side photo, the tip sits close to the face, and the bridge slopes gently with no hump.
• From the front, the tip looks round, with no sharp points of light on it.
• The nose looks short compared with the distance from the nose to the chin.

Projection is the key test. Measure from the corner where the nostril meets the cheek to the tip. On a button nose this distance is short compared with the length of the nose.

The width of your nose is the part a front photo can measure. Our nose shape analyser gives you that in seconds; the profile is for your side photo.

Why button noses are linked with children

Babies and young children all have button noses. The cartilage that will lengthen the bridge and push the tip forward grows mainly through puberty.

In adults the shape usually comes from a short nasal bone and soft tip cartilage. It is common in people of every background.

Button nose vs bulbous nose

Both have a round tip. On a button nose the whole nose is small, so the tip matches it. On a bulbous nose the tip is clearly wider and heavier than the bridge above it.

Our analyser reports tip width as one of its four measurements. A rounded or full tip with a narrow nasal index points toward Button. A full tip with a broad index points toward Bulbous.

Glasses for a button nose

A low, short bridge gives frames little to hold on to, so they slide or rest on the cheeks. Look for frames sold as low bridge fit, or frames with adjustable pads that can be raised.

Lighter frames help too. Heavy acetate frames press down harder on a small nose and slip more.