After washing and polishing your car paint, then you should wax and buff it. It's your surefire way of protecting your finish. Most cars manufactured since the 1980s have paints with a layer of clear coat on them. This adds shine to the car and seals the paint.
Most importantly, cars don't require waxing to be shiny anymore. Just wash them regularly and they'll shine on their own thanks to the clear coat. However, in order to protect this clear coat (and err on the side of caution), some car owners wax their cars anyway as extra protection for the paint.
With that said, here are the different types and forms of wax you can use to make your car really shiny.
Different Types of Car Wax
- Natural Carnauba Wax: Carnauba wax is a type of wax derived naturally from the leaves of a type of Brazilian palm tree. It's prepared and processed for consumers by it being combined with ingredients like beeswax or turpentine.
- Synthetic Wax or Paint Sealant: Paint sealant is made of polymers that are capable of bonding with the paint itself, thus "sealing" it and giving it a layer of gloss or shine. This is the preferred type of wax because it's more durable than carnauba and can last up to a year.
Different Forms of Wax
- Paste Wax: This is the oldest form of wax. It has a hard texture, which makes working it into the surface of your car challenging. The surface itself should be warmed up first before you put the wax on it, which should then melt like butter on a summer day.
- Liquid Wax: Liquid wax is easier to put unto your car compared to paste wax because of its liquid form and smooth texture. Drivers prefer this wax because it's easier to apply by hand or machine, it's less time-consuming to use, and you don't have to heat up your car for it to work.
- Spray Wax: Spray waxes are used for detailing. They're good for a quick wax job every time, especially if you already have a wax layer over your car and you merely want to give it an extra boost to extend its lifespan. It's even faster to apply than liquid wax; just spray and wipe then buff later.
- Colored Wax: Pigmented wax works the same as any other wax, except this time around it makes the color of your paint even more vibrant in case you bought colored wax that matches the same color. It's also good at filing in paint defects like swirls and scratches.