Hands and Nails Through a Pittsburgh Winter

Pittsburgh winters are long, gray and hard on hands. Gloves come off and on all day, the heat runs indoors, hands get washed more often, and nails that looked fine in October start splitting and peeling by January. A few habits and the right salon services can keep them in better shape until spring.

What a Pittsburgh winter looks like in numbers

NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Pittsburgh International Airport give a clear picture of the season:

Month	Average high	Average low	Average snowfall
December	40.6°F	26.7°F	7.7 in
January	36.3°F	21.4°F	13.3 in
February	39.6°F	23.2°F	11.7 in
March	49.1°F	30.3°F	7.6 in

Average lows sit below freezing in all four months, and January is the coldest, with an average temperature of 28.8°F. Snowfall across a normal year adds up to about 44 inches, nearly all of it between December and March. That is four months of cold air outside, dry heated air inside and plenty of reasons to wash and sanitize hands.

Why nails split in winter

Cold, wind and constant hand washing strip moisture from the skin around the nails, and cuticles that dry out tend to crack and catch. Nails that are already thin bend and split more easily. Some people reach for a hardener, and that is where it helps to read the label.

The FDA explains that some nail hardeners contain formaldehyde, which bonds with the keratin in the nail to harden it. Used often, those hardeners may make nails brittle and more likely to break or peel, and formaldehyde can irritate skin or trigger allergies. The FDA’s advice for anyone who wants to avoid it is to check the ingredient list for formaldehyde, formalin, methylene glycol and toluenesulfonamide/formaldehyde resin. Our guide to What Is in Nail Polish: Formaldehyde, Toluene, Phthalates and 3-Free Labels covers the ingredients in more detail.

Everyday habits for the season

• Wear gloves outdoors and for chores like shoveling, scraping the car and washing dishes.
• Dry your hands fully after washing, including between the fingers and around the nails.
• Use a hand cream after washing, and a cuticle oil or cream at night.
• Keep nails a little shorter in winter; long tips catch and snap on coats, bags and car doors.
• File rather than clip a nail that has started to split, so the split does not travel.

The CDC’s general advice against fungal infections, which also covers winter boots and wool socks, fits in well: keep skin clean and dry, change socks every day, avoid tight shoes and socks when you can, and keep nails short and clean.

Salon services that suit winter

Several Pittsburgh salons in our directory list services aimed at dry skin. You will find paraffin wax hand treatments, heated glove treatments as part of a deluxe manicure, and one salon describes a pedicure aimed specifically at dry, cracked heels. Another lists a nail strengthening treatment for damaged nails. A builder gel or structured gel overlay is also a popular winter choice, because it adds a layer of strength to your own nail without the length of an extension; see Gel, Dip, Acrylic or Builder Gel: How the Options Differ and What the FDA Says for how the options compare.

Winter is also a good time to space out enhancements. If your nails have been under acrylic or gel all year, a few weeks of bare, well-moisturized nails can show you how healthy they are underneath. Ask for a careful removal rather than peeling a set off at home, and read Removing Gel, Dip and Acrylic Nails Safely, at the Salon or at Home first.

Pedicures in boot season

From December to March most feet in Pittsburgh spend the day in boots and thick socks, so toenail changes can go unnoticed for weeks. A winter pedicure is a good moment to take a look. If your technician spots a thick or discolored nail and declines to work on it, that is Pennsylvania’s rules at work: a licensed technician must refuse to serve a client they believe has an infectious or contagious condition unless the client has a physician’s certification saying otherwise.

Plan the trip home too. Fresh regular polish on toes smudges easily inside a boot, so bring open shoes or ask the salon about a gel polish, which is cured before you leave. Our guide to Pedicure Safety in Pennsylvania: What the Rules Require and What to Watch For covers what to look for in the pedicure chair.

When dryness is not just dryness

Not every winter nail problem is about the weather. The CDC notes that fungal nail infections can make nails change color, become thick and break easily, and that they are much more common in toenails. A cracked, sore cuticle that turns red, swollen or painful may be infected. Both are reasons to see a healthcare provider rather than to book another manicure. Our guide to Thick, Discolored or Brittle Nails: Fungal Infections and When to See a Doctor explains what the CDC recommends.

Planning around the weather

Pittsburgh’s snowiest months are January and February, so a polish change or fill can be harder to fit in. Book the next appointment before you leave the salon, and if snow is forecast, call to check the day’s hours. Many salons in our Salons take online bookings, and a few accept walk-ins.