Short answer
Yes, trimming nose hair is allowed and fits the Islamic love of cleanliness. Plucking it is discouraged in the Hanafi texts because it can harm the inside of the nose, so use small scissors or a trimmer. The same goes for hair in the ears.
Trimming nose hair that shows or gets in the way is permissible and good grooming. The Hanafi texts discourage plucking it out, giving the reason that it can lead to sores inside the nose.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ listed rinsing the nose with water among the ten practices of the fitrah, together with trimming the moustache and cutting the nails. Keeping the nose clean is part of the natural way, and trimming hair that sticks out or traps dirt serves the same purpose.
The Hanafi books, in their chapter on hair and grooming, discourage pulling out nose hair, and doctors agree: the hair filters dust, and pulling it can cause infections inside the nose. So trim the hair you can see rather than clearing the whole nostril.
- Trimming: allowed with scissors or an electric nose trimmer.
- Plucking or waxing inside the nose: better avoided.
- Ear hair: trimming or removing it is allowed.
- Wudu and ghusl: rinsing the nose is a sunnah in wudu and an obligation in ghusl in the Hanafi school, and trimmed hair makes this easier; see how to make wudu and how to do ghusl.
Scholars of all schools allow trimming. For the other grooming practices of the fitrah, see trimming the moustache and body hair.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:222
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًۭى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ﴿٢٢٢﴾
And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Cleanliness is loved by Allah.
Sahih Muslim 261
Sahih... عشر من الفطرة قص الشارب وإعفاء اللحية والسواك واستنشاق الماء ...
"Ten things are part of the fitrah: trimming the moustache, letting the beard grow, the siwak, rinsing the nose with water..."
Cleaning the nose is part of the natural way.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on circumcision, hair and nails. Discourages plucking nose hair because it may cause sores.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.