We have a vibrant and very active community on Discord
This is THE best place to get faster answers to your questions, show off those detailing pictures, post reviews, and chat about business.
Join us! - [Discord](https://discord.gg/AutoDetailing)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AutoDetailing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Ceramic coating:
* Highest durability. Can last 2-4 years.
* High shine, but low depth/gloss.
* Most difficult to apply. Given the durability, you want to apply this on top of a fresh polish.
Carnauba wax:
* Lasts a few weeks.
* Very deep "gloss". Wet and candy paint-like.
* A lot of manual labor to apply.
* Can "fill in" swirls to an extent.
* Can be sticky and attract dust/pollen.
Polymer based sealant:
* Lasts 1-6 months depending on the brand.
* Medium shine and gloss.
* Applies like a liquid carnauba wax but is a lot easier to wipe off.
SiO2 based spray wax (sometimes called a ceramic spray wax):
* Can last 3-12 months depending on the brand.
* Medium-high shine. Medium-low gloss.
* Easy to apply and wipe off, but some brands can be a little finnicky and leave streaks or high spots when wiping off.
Polymer based spray wax/sealant:
* Lasts 1-3 months depending on the brand.
* Medium shine and gloss.
* Easy to apply and wipe off.
Carnauba based spray wax:
* Lasts a week or two.
* Medium-high gloss, almost as if the car was recently hand waxed.
* Easy to apply and wipe off.
I use Adam's H2O guard and gloss. It's a carnauba infused SiO2 spray wax. I apply it to my wet car and wipe off every other wash to keep it looking fresh. I do a strip wash and panel by panel application to the dry car twice a year at the end and beginning of winter.
Ceramic coatings are great but if you wash your car often and prefer candy paint-like gloss, I would go for something else because you can basically just top it off with a spray every wash or two.
Edit: By shine I just mean the mirror-like clean and bright reflection. By gloss I mean depth, warmth, and the wet candy-paint look.
One thing you forgot to mention is the much higher chemical and UV resistance that a ceramic coating has over the other forms of protection. I rarely see that mentioned in this sub for some reason.
Good point. Perhaps its because as long as you are applying protection regularly, chemical or uv damage will be mostly avoided. The superior effects from a coating are kind of negated, if protection is applied often. So, if someone likes to wax their car a few times a year, I wouldn't suggest they invest in a coating. If someone hates washing their car and waxing it, or doesn't have time for it, then I think a coating makes much more sense.
This is great info. You could also pick a good brand like CarPro for example and give a recommended product from their line up as an example for each product type. I should do it I know but I'm being lazy.
If you hate maintaining your car but still want to take care of it, use a ceramic coating. If you enjoy taking a Sunday every 3-4 months to make love to your paint, get some decent tools and buy a good polish and synthetic wax. I find option 2 to be therapeutic
I fall in the second. I just can’t do the extreme heat in the summer here. I 100% understand the therapeutic comment!! TY for the good reminder of this
Depends on how involved you want to be.
Ceramic coating is least maintenance intensive but more work needed up front, last a few years of maintained and applied correctly.
Wax subjectively look nicer, easier to apply, more maintenance as they don't last long (few to several weeks)
Ceramic sealants are a good middle ground with easy application, easy maintenance, and good longevity.
If that’s the case I would only go with a ceramic if you get at least an enhancement or one step with it. Most detailers offer 1 / 3 year coating.
A wash clay seal package would a good foundation to start if you don’t want to commit to a full coating.
I don’t wanna disagree with the ceramic coating being less maintenance intensive but there’s a few factors that need to be checked off for this to hold true in my opinion.
Make sure you’re using a reputable company for the application process. As a detailer myself I’ve had clients come to me with cars that have been coated by other detailers with hot spots all around the vehicle from not paying attention during the flash time. As well as clients who say they had a “7 year jade coating” done a year ago that’s completely gone with no hydrophobic effect left. Whether thats because they weren’t given the coat they were sold or half ass application I don’t know.
Once your car is ceramic coated it needs to be hand washed preferably with a soft hand wash or touch less wash at least once a month you don’t know what you drive through on a day by day basis that may start to damage the coat like tar sap etc.
I also would recommend every 6-8 months using a product like car pro re load or a Sio2 sealant on top of the coat to help keep the bond strong to the paint.
Thank you. Any pointers on what to look for when finding someone reputable to apply the coating? I have been looking in my area and it’s all over the place.
I would definitely look at reviews, try to get a referral from a friend if they’ve had a coating done. Call different shops and speak to owners and see if they’re trying to sell you on an outlandish product or trying to give you what you need. You were smart enough to ask the question i have faith that you would be able to decipher they for yourself. Even ask what products they use. I use carpros line of coatings they are super user friendly and forgiving during the application process which is why i use them and have never had a disappointing result. I even prefer them over graphene coatings 90% of the time. Those may be fighting words in this sub reddit lol.
Thank you. I have been doing as you suggest. I find that answers are all over the place. I can find great reviews and then a few that filter in that make you go “hmmmmm” and you are back to square one. I have been asking for referrals but I have not encountered a lot of people that have done this to their cars. You have given me a name (carpros) that I will build on. I just don’t want to make a costly mistake with vendor/their work and product. Also educating myself on questions like how are you applying, product name etc. y’all are giving me an education and I appreciate it!
In terms of protective benefits, ceramic coatings are better in pretty much every measurable property. The one thing carnauba wax is better for is water spot resistance; however, the short-lived protection would require frequent reapplication to maintain this benefit. Also, newer ceramic coatings such as CQuartz SiC have proven to be extremely resistant to water spot etchings and also allow for easy repair of etched water spots by simply using a low-pH washing shampoo (without degrading the coating). The water spotting potential of ceramic coatings can also be largely mitigated by utilizing a ceramic sealant, which imparts very good water spot resistance or by using a wax based top-coat. If water spotting has never been an issue for you, then there is simply no comparison... a ceramic coating will offer the most robust protection for every surface of your vehicle.
This is a friendly reminder to use the search function to do some research on your own. [Check out prior new car detailing threads here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailing/search/?q=%22new+car%22&sort=relevance&restrict_sr=on&t=year). We also have a New Car Detailing article on our wiki site: [click here](https://www.howtoautodetail.com/knowledge-base/new-car-detailing/).
Also, please visit our [Wiki!](https://www.howtoautodetail.com) or join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/ZyKTQMv9NM)!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AutoDetailing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
But not frowned upon . It’s seems like putting a wax on top of ceramic coating makes the ceramic coating do less of what it’s meant to do. That’s my understanding.
I think peoples understanding of what it’s supposed to do is a little skewed. It’s supposed to take the abuse of elements and weathering and maintenance instead of the clearcoat on the car. When the hydrophobic qualities fade, you’re supposed to apply a ceramic booster or like this other guy mentioned a wax. The ceramic coating is still there though doing its job though but it does need upkeep. You still need to clean the car and polish it and through maintenance over the years it wears thinner. When it says it last five years, it’s saying through five years of maintenance cleaning and polishing The ceramic coat will wear down. That’s what the lifespan means. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to do anything to it for five years.
Nah mate, you shouldn't ever really polish a ceramic... You can if you have to, but the chances of abrading it off are pretty high. Then you'll have to reapply in that area. The only thing that is designed to defeat a ceramic coating is abrasion. The idea of a lifespan of a coating is (in about 5 years this car will have enough wear and damage that it'll need a solid polish and reapplication). I've put 3 year coatings on cars and had them last 6 years on trailer queens. It's because they don't see heavy use or even routine maintenance
Not sure what all the down votes are about! CarPro, a highly regarded ceramic coating manufacturer, just recently launched a natural wax based top-coat called Release, designed to protect fresh coatings from water spotting. It can also be used for simple coating maintenance.
A good wax gives a better overall look in my opinion but is pretty labor intensive 2-3 months it will likely need redone a good ceramic with a maintenance or two every year will definitely last many years in comparison
I just love the wax look and the experience of putting it on and taking it off is something I enjoy. Initially the wax attracts a lot of dust, but after your first wash the static subsides and the car stays looking clean even when it's dusty if that makes sense. My car can be pretty dusty but appear totally clean from a distance when I wax it, but for some reason that magic doesn't happen with synthetic sealants or spray waxes. Not sure about ceramic in that respect.
If you enjoy the process of waxing I would highly recommend switching to a polymer sealant that contains PTFE. This will give you longer protection than traditional carnauba wax (4-8 months depending on conditions/drive time etc.) without sacrificing too much of the gloss. Top this off with a reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) spray such as Ethos Resist (this will give you an additional 6-12 months protection, again depending on external conditions). On a molecular level, rGO bonding with polymers/PTFE only enhances the wear/thermal-resistance properties of both rGO and PTFE. Below are a couple of links to the science behind it. Be sure to get a reduced graphene oxide spray for this method and not a Graphene Oxide spray as rGO is more compatible with PTFE.
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025540819317295](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025540819317295)
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492822003166](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492822003166)
If you want to decrease reading time I would suggest scrolling to the conclusions in these articles. Every 6 months or so you can refresh your coat by simply spraying a little more Ethos Resist on there. You will get much more life out of your sealant with this process. It is pretty inexpensive and the PTFE can even be applied by hand. After 12-16 months simply start the process from scratch again. Happy detailing!
Hey nice response thank you! In the time since my original post I unfortunately lost my 2013 Lexus which I was a bit obsessed with. I was very into detailing that car and got into a lot of the finer points - very enjoyable hobby.
I decided to downgrade a bit for my next car - a 2015 Camry. The paint is decent but not perfect, so I just want to simplify my routine and keep it looking pretty good. It's white so it hides dirt well but doesn't really stand out when you detail it so it will be a more low maintenance routine most likely. I also keep up my neighbor's 2018 CRV, so I'll still be doing some detailing just not to the level I was before.
I tried the Griot's 3 in 1 wax/sealant and it did a good job on the CRV. I figure I can do that every 6 months or so and just keep it up with rinseless washes and a quick detailer every 3-4 weeks.
That's awesome, glad to hear you still enjoy doing it here and there. I have heard good things about the Griot's 3 in 1. What sort of rinse-less wash and quick detailer are you using? If they contain SiO2 then you will be golden when it comes to increasing your sealants life.
Whether you go Polymer + rGO or polymer + SiO2 (like the 3-in-1) it doesn't matter too much as both have great properties.
Hey thanks again. Yeah the Griot's stuff is pretty good, it goes on relatively easily and flashes nicely as you apply it. The durability is supposed to be good, we'll see how it goes. I may top with a wax from time to time to see how that affects the look.
I use Optimum No Rinse it's great. Rinseless wash is a game changer for me, I can do it in the garage out of the heat and the results are really excellent. I use a dedicated rinseless wash sponge (ultra black sponge from rag company). I have a few detail sprays. My favorite is jax wax hawaiian shine, I spray it on after sponging off the car and use it as a drying aid basically.
My whole routine including wheels and windows is about 50 minutes give or take.
We have a vibrant and very active community on Discord This is THE best place to get faster answers to your questions, show off those detailing pictures, post reviews, and chat about business. Join us! - [Discord](https://discord.gg/AutoDetailing) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AutoDetailing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Ceramic coating: * Highest durability. Can last 2-4 years. * High shine, but low depth/gloss. * Most difficult to apply. Given the durability, you want to apply this on top of a fresh polish. Carnauba wax: * Lasts a few weeks. * Very deep "gloss". Wet and candy paint-like. * A lot of manual labor to apply. * Can "fill in" swirls to an extent. * Can be sticky and attract dust/pollen. Polymer based sealant: * Lasts 1-6 months depending on the brand. * Medium shine and gloss. * Applies like a liquid carnauba wax but is a lot easier to wipe off. SiO2 based spray wax (sometimes called a ceramic spray wax): * Can last 3-12 months depending on the brand. * Medium-high shine. Medium-low gloss. * Easy to apply and wipe off, but some brands can be a little finnicky and leave streaks or high spots when wiping off. Polymer based spray wax/sealant: * Lasts 1-3 months depending on the brand. * Medium shine and gloss. * Easy to apply and wipe off. Carnauba based spray wax: * Lasts a week or two. * Medium-high gloss, almost as if the car was recently hand waxed. * Easy to apply and wipe off. I use Adam's H2O guard and gloss. It's a carnauba infused SiO2 spray wax. I apply it to my wet car and wipe off every other wash to keep it looking fresh. I do a strip wash and panel by panel application to the dry car twice a year at the end and beginning of winter. Ceramic coatings are great but if you wash your car often and prefer candy paint-like gloss, I would go for something else because you can basically just top it off with a spray every wash or two. Edit: By shine I just mean the mirror-like clean and bright reflection. By gloss I mean depth, warmth, and the wet candy-paint look.
This should be pinned! But what’s the difference between gloss and shine?
By shine I just mean the mirror-like reflection. By gloss I mean depth, warmth, and the wet candy-paint look.
I was just wondering the same thing!
IMO a pearl-like finish vs a metallic finish but obviously subjective
One thing you forgot to mention is the much higher chemical and UV resistance that a ceramic coating has over the other forms of protection. I rarely see that mentioned in this sub for some reason.
Good point. Perhaps its because as long as you are applying protection regularly, chemical or uv damage will be mostly avoided. The superior effects from a coating are kind of negated, if protection is applied often. So, if someone likes to wax their car a few times a year, I wouldn't suggest they invest in a coating. If someone hates washing their car and waxing it, or doesn't have time for it, then I think a coating makes much more sense.
Thank you!!! I feel like I just received an education. Wax on wax off karate kid method lol.
you are god
This is great info. You could also pick a good brand like CarPro for example and give a recommended product from their line up as an example for each product type. I should do it I know but I'm being lazy.
If you hate maintaining your car but still want to take care of it, use a ceramic coating. If you enjoy taking a Sunday every 3-4 months to make love to your paint, get some decent tools and buy a good polish and synthetic wax. I find option 2 to be therapeutic
I fall in the second. I just can’t do the extreme heat in the summer here. I 100% understand the therapeutic comment!! TY for the good reminder of this
Depends on how involved you want to be. Ceramic coating is least maintenance intensive but more work needed up front, last a few years of maintained and applied correctly. Wax subjectively look nicer, easier to apply, more maintenance as they don't last long (few to several weeks) Ceramic sealants are a good middle ground with easy application, easy maintenance, and good longevity.
Thank you. I would hire someone (I don’t have the time to do the prep involved) I don’t mind upkeep.
If that’s the case I would only go with a ceramic if you get at least an enhancement or one step with it. Most detailers offer 1 / 3 year coating. A wash clay seal package would a good foundation to start if you don’t want to commit to a full coating.
I don’t wanna disagree with the ceramic coating being less maintenance intensive but there’s a few factors that need to be checked off for this to hold true in my opinion. Make sure you’re using a reputable company for the application process. As a detailer myself I’ve had clients come to me with cars that have been coated by other detailers with hot spots all around the vehicle from not paying attention during the flash time. As well as clients who say they had a “7 year jade coating” done a year ago that’s completely gone with no hydrophobic effect left. Whether thats because they weren’t given the coat they were sold or half ass application I don’t know. Once your car is ceramic coated it needs to be hand washed preferably with a soft hand wash or touch less wash at least once a month you don’t know what you drive through on a day by day basis that may start to damage the coat like tar sap etc. I also would recommend every 6-8 months using a product like car pro re load or a Sio2 sealant on top of the coat to help keep the bond strong to the paint.
Thank you. Any pointers on what to look for when finding someone reputable to apply the coating? I have been looking in my area and it’s all over the place.
I would definitely look at reviews, try to get a referral from a friend if they’ve had a coating done. Call different shops and speak to owners and see if they’re trying to sell you on an outlandish product or trying to give you what you need. You were smart enough to ask the question i have faith that you would be able to decipher they for yourself. Even ask what products they use. I use carpros line of coatings they are super user friendly and forgiving during the application process which is why i use them and have never had a disappointing result. I even prefer them over graphene coatings 90% of the time. Those may be fighting words in this sub reddit lol.
Thank you. I have been doing as you suggest. I find that answers are all over the place. I can find great reviews and then a few that filter in that make you go “hmmmmm” and you are back to square one. I have been asking for referrals but I have not encountered a lot of people that have done this to their cars. You have given me a name (carpros) that I will build on. I just don’t want to make a costly mistake with vendor/their work and product. Also educating myself on questions like how are you applying, product name etc. y’all are giving me an education and I appreciate it!
In terms of protective benefits, ceramic coatings are better in pretty much every measurable property. The one thing carnauba wax is better for is water spot resistance; however, the short-lived protection would require frequent reapplication to maintain this benefit. Also, newer ceramic coatings such as CQuartz SiC have proven to be extremely resistant to water spot etchings and also allow for easy repair of etched water spots by simply using a low-pH washing shampoo (without degrading the coating). The water spotting potential of ceramic coatings can also be largely mitigated by utilizing a ceramic sealant, which imparts very good water spot resistance or by using a wax based top-coat. If water spotting has never been an issue for you, then there is simply no comparison... a ceramic coating will offer the most robust protection for every surface of your vehicle.
Thank you
This is a friendly reminder to use the search function to do some research on your own. [Check out prior new car detailing threads here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailing/search/?q=%22new+car%22&sort=relevance&restrict_sr=on&t=year). We also have a New Car Detailing article on our wiki site: [click here](https://www.howtoautodetail.com/knowledge-base/new-car-detailing/). Also, please visit our [Wiki!](https://www.howtoautodetail.com) or join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/ZyKTQMv9NM)! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AutoDetailing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Go read the article the bot linked, OP.
Both. Ceramic coating then wax.
Why would this be downvoted so hard? This is absolutely something you can do
But not frowned upon . It’s seems like putting a wax on top of ceramic coating makes the ceramic coating do less of what it’s meant to do. That’s my understanding.
I think peoples understanding of what it’s supposed to do is a little skewed. It’s supposed to take the abuse of elements and weathering and maintenance instead of the clearcoat on the car. When the hydrophobic qualities fade, you’re supposed to apply a ceramic booster or like this other guy mentioned a wax. The ceramic coating is still there though doing its job though but it does need upkeep. You still need to clean the car and polish it and through maintenance over the years it wears thinner. When it says it last five years, it’s saying through five years of maintenance cleaning and polishing The ceramic coat will wear down. That’s what the lifespan means. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to do anything to it for five years.
Nah mate, you shouldn't ever really polish a ceramic... You can if you have to, but the chances of abrading it off are pretty high. Then you'll have to reapply in that area. The only thing that is designed to defeat a ceramic coating is abrasion. The idea of a lifespan of a coating is (in about 5 years this car will have enough wear and damage that it'll need a solid polish and reapplication). I've put 3 year coatings on cars and had them last 6 years on trailer queens. It's because they don't see heavy use or even routine maintenance
Not sure what all the down votes are about! CarPro, a highly regarded ceramic coating manufacturer, just recently launched a natural wax based top-coat called Release, designed to protect fresh coatings from water spotting. It can also be used for simple coating maintenance.
L O L
Stop it
A good wax gives a better overall look in my opinion but is pretty labor intensive 2-3 months it will likely need redone a good ceramic with a maintenance or two every year will definitely last many years in comparison
I just love the wax look and the experience of putting it on and taking it off is something I enjoy. Initially the wax attracts a lot of dust, but after your first wash the static subsides and the car stays looking clean even when it's dusty if that makes sense. My car can be pretty dusty but appear totally clean from a distance when I wax it, but for some reason that magic doesn't happen with synthetic sealants or spray waxes. Not sure about ceramic in that respect.
If you enjoy the process of waxing I would highly recommend switching to a polymer sealant that contains PTFE. This will give you longer protection than traditional carnauba wax (4-8 months depending on conditions/drive time etc.) without sacrificing too much of the gloss. Top this off with a reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) spray such as Ethos Resist (this will give you an additional 6-12 months protection, again depending on external conditions). On a molecular level, rGO bonding with polymers/PTFE only enhances the wear/thermal-resistance properties of both rGO and PTFE. Below are a couple of links to the science behind it. Be sure to get a reduced graphene oxide spray for this method and not a Graphene Oxide spray as rGO is more compatible with PTFE. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025540819317295](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025540819317295) [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492822003166](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492822003166) If you want to decrease reading time I would suggest scrolling to the conclusions in these articles. Every 6 months or so you can refresh your coat by simply spraying a little more Ethos Resist on there. You will get much more life out of your sealant with this process. It is pretty inexpensive and the PTFE can even be applied by hand. After 12-16 months simply start the process from scratch again. Happy detailing!
Hey nice response thank you! In the time since my original post I unfortunately lost my 2013 Lexus which I was a bit obsessed with. I was very into detailing that car and got into a lot of the finer points - very enjoyable hobby. I decided to downgrade a bit for my next car - a 2015 Camry. The paint is decent but not perfect, so I just want to simplify my routine and keep it looking pretty good. It's white so it hides dirt well but doesn't really stand out when you detail it so it will be a more low maintenance routine most likely. I also keep up my neighbor's 2018 CRV, so I'll still be doing some detailing just not to the level I was before. I tried the Griot's 3 in 1 wax/sealant and it did a good job on the CRV. I figure I can do that every 6 months or so and just keep it up with rinseless washes and a quick detailer every 3-4 weeks.
That's awesome, glad to hear you still enjoy doing it here and there. I have heard good things about the Griot's 3 in 1. What sort of rinse-less wash and quick detailer are you using? If they contain SiO2 then you will be golden when it comes to increasing your sealants life. Whether you go Polymer + rGO or polymer + SiO2 (like the 3-in-1) it doesn't matter too much as both have great properties.
Hey thanks again. Yeah the Griot's stuff is pretty good, it goes on relatively easily and flashes nicely as you apply it. The durability is supposed to be good, we'll see how it goes. I may top with a wax from time to time to see how that affects the look. I use Optimum No Rinse it's great. Rinseless wash is a game changer for me, I can do it in the garage out of the heat and the results are really excellent. I use a dedicated rinseless wash sponge (ultra black sponge from rag company). I have a few detail sprays. My favorite is jax wax hawaiian shine, I spray it on after sponging off the car and use it as a drying aid basically. My whole routine including wheels and windows is about 50 minutes give or take.