Car Wax or Synthetic Sealants? Start Your Auto Detailing Career with This Guide

Without a sealant, auto paint risks deteriorating when it’s exposed to direct sunlight, moisture, and pollution. Since sealants are designed to provide a protective coating, auto detailing professionals know that using these products is one of the most important steps in the detailing process.

If you’re planning on starting a career in auto detailing, you’ll learn that wax and synthetic sealants are your two basic choices of products for paint protection. These products also go a step beyond protection; they make a car’s paint finish reflect more light. Although both waxes and synthetic paint sealants work well at protecting a paint job and making it shine, they both have their own distinct advantages. Read on for more information on each so you can decide which type of paint protection you might want to use during your future career.

Use Car Wax in Your Auto Detailing Career to get a Warm Glow

One of the most common types of car waxes available on the market is carnauba wax. This wax is produced by a species of palm tree in Brazil, and is known for its ability to protect paint from the sun and help cars from accumulating water spots. It’s available in different grades, most of which are an affordable option for any detailing shop to keep in stock.

Carnauba wax is a favorite amongst car collectors because it’s known to give paint jobs a rich, warm glow. It blends well with any tone of paint and creates a natural glow that looks great under several lighting conditions. As you’ll soon learn during your auto detailing training, a coat of natural-based wax like Carnauba typically lasts six to eight weeks before it starts to wear off. The lifespan of a wax coat is generally affected by climate. It will wear off more quickly on cars being driven around daily under the summer sun, and usually lasts longer during the fall and winter months.

Choose Synthetic Sealants in Your Auto Detailing Career for a Lasting Shine

Synthetic sealants are made up of completely synthetic materials, and are typically thinner in consistency than waxes. Because of this, applying a coat is usually simple — whether you’re doing it by hand or with a buffer during your auto detailing career.

Synthetic paint sealants are made of polymers, which are tens of thousands of synthetic materials that link together and form a rigid shell on top of a vehicle’s paint. Whereas waxes are known to create a warm glow, sealants give off a mirror shine instead. Because people love it when their cars have a glassy look, and because synthetic sealants are a real time-saver for detailing pros, this choice has become more popular in detailing shops in recent years.

The biggest selling point for synthetic paint sealants is their longevity. Pros with auto detailing training know that a synthetic coat can last anywhere from four to six months, and sometimes even longer. Some brands of high-end synthetic paint sealants will protect a car’s paint for up to a year!

Ready to launch your professional automotive detailing career? Visit ATC for program information, or to speak with an advisor.