Sealants and waxes are two popular products used by car paintwork enthusiasts. Their presence helps cover and protect the paint.

But sealants and waxes are two different things. If this is your first time on car grooming things, the terms might be confusing for you.

This is why we made this article. You can find tons of things about waxes and sealants.

Waxes

What is it?

Waxes are considered a traditional option to protect paint and details. It can be made of natural ingredients, such as beeswax and carnauba wax. Both are great at repelling water.

Manufacturers blend waxes with special ingredients to provide UV protection. The mixture will also help to prevent paint from fading.

Pros of waxes

Waxes are generally easy to apply, even for beginners. If it accidentally got excessed, it can be easily removed with microfiber towels. Waxes offer a warm glow that looks nice and classy for traditional detailers.

Cons of waxes

However, some detailers reported that waxes are harder to apply. Even though the coating protects your paint, it is not as protective as sealants could give. Since waxes can be natural, the durability cannot top the synthetic type.

Sealant Coatings

What is it?

Sealants are touted as a modern way to protect your paintwork. Besides protecting the paint, the coating also locks its shine and gloss.

This material lasts longer than wax, which is quite interesting to use. The application is also effortless, considering all you need to do is to put shade on the paint instead of mixing it into the paint.

Meanwhile, if ceramic is part of the sealant coating process, you better let the pro handle the task. Ceramic could cause a serious downtime to your vehicle. And you must polish the paintwork to remove the ceramic layer in the first place.

Of course, you need to work on small areas, ensuring that all the paintwork gets even layers.

Pros of sealants

Compared to waxes, sealants offer a longer time to stay on the paint. As mentioned earlier, the application is easier too. Removing the layer is also effortless.

Maintaining your car would be much easier with sealants. All you need to do is to wash your vehicle weekly, while the shine won’t fade at all. Washing your car also helps remove harmful elements.

Cons of sealants

Of course, it comes with a few coins worth considering.

Generally, sealants are more expensive than other types of paint coatings. As mentioned earlier, ceramic coatings require a pro to do the job, which expands your budget too.

If you happened to apply the sealants on your own and you got them wrong, removing the coat will be painful. Since the curing time is longer than waxes, the application also gets longer. Ceramic sealants even require 24 hours to cure completely.

Bottom Line

Both sealants and waxes come with different results. While waxes offer a warm shiny look, you get a cold shine from sealants. Of course, it depends on your preference. More than anything, it is crucial to protect your vehicle’s paint with a proper seal.