If you’ve previously waxed your car but found its protective capabilities inadequate, you may want to consider the next grade of paint protection up: ceramic detailing. There are myriad carnuba waxes out there capable of keeping your car’s paint in check while turning heads with a sumptuously glossy shine, but for long-lasting protection, the chemical polymers of ceramics offer superior performance.
What is ceramic detailing?
Ceramic coatings are layers of chemical polymers that bond with a car’s clear coat on a molecular level. The chemical bond forms a new hydrophobic layer of protection, fending off dirt, grime and even water to keep your car’s paint looking factory fresh.
The best quality nano-ceramic coating jobs require a professional team to apply the material, so you’ll need to tote your wheels down to the local paint shop and prepare to dig deep. However, with a growing number of ceramic detailing sprays appearing on the DIY detailing market, there’s no reason why you can’t take the challenge on at home.
Ceramic detailing sprays may not offer the same protection and durability as a professional coat, but for a fraction of the price, they’ll keep your car’s paint safe from the perils of the natural world for up to 12 months.
How to apply a ceramic detailing spray
Ceramic detailing coats can be applied at home by following a few simple steps:
Begin by removing all the dirt, grime and other contaminants from your car’s surface. Any particulates left on the surface of the clear coat will impede the bonding ability of the polymers, so clean and dry the surface of each panel before applying for the best quality results.
Proceed to spray a small amount of ceramic detailing onto the panel. For the sake of detail and quality control, we recommend addressing one panel of the car at a time before moving onto the next.
Once the ceramics have been sprayed onto the clear coat surface, use a clean microfibre towel to gently rub it into the bodywork, applying light pressure in small circular motions around the panel until the entire surface has been covered.
For the perfect finish, use another clean and dry microfibre towel to buff the ceramic into the bodywork until it glows like the boots of a Queen’s Guard sentry. Most ceramic detailing sprays remain effective for up to 12 months, but it’s worth checking the product information on your bottle to ascertain when the next coat is due.
Not sure which ceramic spray to buy? Here’s a list of our favourites:
Editor's Choice
If it’s a multi-functional detailing product you’re after, look no further than this example from Turtlewax. Upon contact with the car’s bodywork surface, the hydro-glide washing polymers of this example enclose grit and grime particles to lift and clean without using any water. In its wake, the formula leaves a coat of hybrid ceramic wax, creating a defensive shield while deepening the colour of the paint.
With its scratch-free application, this 3-in-1 detailer is safe to use on all watertight exterior surfaces including car glass and wheels.
Pros
- Multiple products in one bottle
Cons
- Cleaning capabilities may not be necessary – worth cleaning properly anyway
Meguiar’s is a name synonymous with high merit and experience in the detailing market, a reputation preserved by the quality of its ceramic detailer. This high lubricating detailer contains Meguiar’s’ advanced Si02 Hybrid Ceramic technology, enhancing the capabilities of any protective coats already applied or as a standalone protective layer thanks to its high water beading proficiency.
With an easy spray-on, wipe-off application process, this ceramic detailer would make a great choice as a fast-acting paint defence solution.
Pros
- Easy application process
- Powerful protective capabilities
Cons
- Unscented, for if you're into that sort of thing
This example from AutoBead would make a great choice. Formulated from a blend of nanoceramic particles and reactive polysiloxanes, this ceramic spray is rated to protect for up to six months. Used in conjunction with a hard detailing wax and the lifetime of your protective coat could be extended for months longer. We especially like this example for its hydrophobic qualities and water-beading capabilities – especially useful over the winter months.
Pros
- Long-lasting protection
Cons
- Expensive
Manufactured using the latest in ceramic detailing technology, this quick exterior spray offers superb performance to defend your car’s clear coat and enhance its colour with a glossy finish. This example forms part of Angelwax’s Enigma range of ceramic detailing products which, when used in conjunction with each other, can provide an even more robust defence. If you already have a layer of wax or ceramic coating applied, this Enigma QED spray will extend its life time.
Pros
- Quick detailer can be used alone or to reinforce the capabilities of an existing ceramic or wax layer
Cons
- Expensive
Gyeon’s Q2M ceramic detailer represents a no-nonsense, effective solution to keep your car’s paint safe over the wet and windy months. Offering great hydrophobic capabilities, this ceramic detailer is easy to apply yet powerful in its protective capacity. While this ceramic detailer may only offer up to 6 weeks of protection on its own, it would make a great top-up product to ensure the validity and efficacy of your professional wax or ceramic layer over an extended period of time.
Pros
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Only effective for 6 weeks if used alone
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