How Does FaceIQ Labs Rate the Nose for Dimorphism?

Key facts

• Nose is one of the Dimorphism traits FaceIQ Labs scores, alongside jaw, brow ridge, eyebrows, eyes, face shape, facial hair, hair length, hairline and lips.
• The nose assessment uses both a front-view image and a side-profile image.
• Front-view features: nose width (at the alar base), nasal bridge width, nostril shape, tip width and overall nose-to-face ratio.
• Side-profile features: nasal bridge height, profile shape, nose length, nasal tip projection, nasolabial angle and tip rotation.
• Masculine noses tend to be larger, wider, with a prominent bridge and a straight or convex profile; feminine noses tend to be smaller, narrower, with a refined or upturned tip and a concave profile.
• Nose dimorphism levels run Very Low (0–2), Low (3–4), Average (5–6), High (7–8) and Very High (9–10), shown on a morph slider with Front/Side and Male/Female options.
• A score of 5–6 is labeled Average: moderate nasal size and projection with balanced characteristics, on both male and female faces.
• Rhinoplasty, temporary swelling, camera angle and lens distortion can change how a nose appears in photos.
• FaceIQ Labs recommends photos from six feet away with the back camera at 2x zoom, at eye level, with even lighting and a neutral expression.

What does FaceIQ Labs' nose dimorphism assessment measure?

FaceIQ Labs' nose assessment measures nasal dimorphism, meaning how masculine or feminine a nose appears, using both a front-view photo and a side-profile photo. It covers nose width, bridge height, length, tip shape, profile and nostril shape. The nose is one of ten traits in the FaceIQ Labs Dimorphism pillar, which also scores jaw, brow ridge, eyebrows, eyes, face shape, facial hair, hair length, hairline and lips.

Which front-view nose features does FaceIQ Labs evaluate?

FaceIQ Labs evaluates five nose features from the front-view photo: nose width at the alar base, nasal bridge width, nostril shape, tip width and overall nose-to-face ratio. In general, larger, wider or more flared features read as masculine, and smaller, narrower or more refined features read as feminine.

What does each front-view nose feature indicate?

• Nose width: measured at the widest point (alar base); wider noses are more masculine.
• Nasal bridge width: the width of the bridge between the eyes; wider bridges are masculine.
• Nostril shape: larger, more flared nostrils are masculine; smaller, narrower nostrils are feminine.
• Tip width: bulbous, wide tips are masculine; refined, narrow tips are feminine.
• Overall nose-to-face ratio: noses that are larger relative to face size are masculine.

Which side-profile nose features does FaceIQ Labs evaluate?

FaceIQ Labs evaluates six nose features from the side-profile photo: nasal bridge height, profile shape, nose length, nasal tip projection, nasolabial angle and tip rotation. Higher bridges, straight or convex profiles, longer noses and more acute angles read as masculine; flatter bridges, concave profiles, shorter noses and more open angles read as feminine.

What does each side-profile nose feature indicate?

• Nasal bridge height: higher, more prominent bridges are masculine; flatter bridges are feminine.
• Profile shape: straight or convex (Roman/aquiline) profiles are masculine; concave (ski-slope) profiles are feminine.
• Nose length: longer noses from bridge to tip are masculine; shorter noses are feminine.
• Nasal tip projection: how far the tip projects forward from the face.
• Nasolabial angle: the angle between the upper lip and nose; more acute angles are masculine, more open angles feminine. The FaceIQ Labs page cites research (Armijo et al., 2012) finding an ideal of about 95-100 degrees for women and slightly less for men.
• Tip rotation: upturned tips are feminine; straight or downturned tips are masculine.

How do masculine and feminine noses differ?

According to FaceIQ Labs, masculine noses tend to be larger, wider and have a straighter or convex profile, while feminine noses are typically smaller, narrower and may have a slightly concave profile or upturned tip. The FaceIQ Labs page cites research (Springer et al., 2008) saying ideal male and female noses differ only slightly, mainly in bridge height and position, and that noses with humps are consistently disliked. It also cites research (van Zijl et al., 2020) saying a mathematically average nose is rated much more attractive than individual noses, and that attractiveness decreases as nose shape deviates from the average.

How are nose dimorphism scores interpreted, and what does 5–6 mean?

FaceIQ Labs groups nose dimorphism scores into five levels: Very Low (0–2), Low (3–4), Average (5–6), High (7–8) and Very High (9–10). A score of 5–6 is labeled Average, meaning moderate nasal size and projection with balanced characteristics, on both male and female faces. Meaning depends on sex: a higher score means a more masculine nose on a male face and a more feminine nose on a female face.

What do the score levels look like on male and female faces?

• Very Low (0–2): on a male face, a small, narrow nose with minimal projection (feminine-presenting); on a female face, a very large, wide nose with strong projection (masculine-presenting).
• Low (3–4): on a male face, a smaller nose with limited width and projection (feminine-leaning); on a female face, a larger nose with noticeable width and projection (masculine-leaning).
• Average (5–6): on both male and female faces, moderate nasal size and projection with balanced characteristics.
• High (7–8): on a male face, a larger nose with good width and projection (masculine presentation); on a female face, a smaller nose with delicate features and minimal projection (feminine presentation).
• Very High (9–10): on a male face, a very large, wide nose with prominent projection (excellent masculine presentation); on a female face, a very small, narrow nose with refined features (excellent feminine presentation).
• A morph slider lets users compare levels, with Front/Side and Male/Female options.

What can make a nose dimorphism assessment less accurate?

Rhinoplasty, temporary swelling and camera effects can all make a FaceIQ Labs nose assessment less representative of the nose. FaceIQ Labs lists these as common mistakes to keep in mind: rhinoplasty significantly alters nasal appearance, swelling from allergies or illness can temporarily change it, and camera angle and lens distortion affect nose size and shape in photos. Front and side views may also suggest different scores, so both should be considered.

How should I take photos for an accurate nose assessment?

For an accurate nose assessment, FaceIQ Labs advises assessing both front and side views, taking photos at eye level rather than from above or below, and using neutral lighting that shows the nose contours clearly. More generally, FaceIQ Labs recommends photos from six feet away with the back camera at 2x zoom, even lighting and a neutral expression. Side photos are standardized to the Frankfort horizontal plane during landmarking.

Frequently asked questions

Does FaceIQ Labs assess the nose from one angle or two?

Two angles: a front view and a side profile. Nose width, bridge width, nostril shape, tip width and nose-to-face ratio are front-view features, while bridge height, profile shape, length, tip projection, nasolabial angle and tip rotation are side-profile features.

What is the nasolabial angle and how does FaceIQ Labs use it?

The nasolabial angle is the angle between the upper lip and the nose, assessed from the side profile. FaceIQ Labs treats more acute angles as masculine and more open angles as feminine. Its page cites research (Armijo et al., 2012) with an ideal of about 95-100 degrees for women and slightly less for men.

Is a masculine nose a better nose in FaceIQ Labs' assessment?

The material does not say so. The nose assessment describes where a nose falls on the masculine-feminine dimorphism range, with 5–6 labeled Average (moderate size and projection, balanced characteristics). A higher score means more masculine on a male face and more feminine on a female face.

Does rhinoplasty affect the nose assessment?

Yes. FaceIQ Labs states that rhinoplasty (nose job) significantly alters nasal appearance, so a nose in photos taken after the procedure would look different from before it.

Can allergies or illness change my nose assessment?

They can. FaceIQ Labs notes that swelling from allergies or illness can temporarily change nose appearance, which may affect how the nose looks in photos and therefore the assessment.

What if my front and side views suggest different nose scores?

FaceIQ Labs notes this can happen and advises considering both views together rather than relying on only one.