Spray Waxing vs. Hand Waxing vs. Ceramic Coating: What’s the difference?

When exploring different options for Exterior Detailing services, a common differentiator between services (and price!) is the sealant/protectant put onto the vehicle.  If one is inexperienced in the field, it can be tough to tell the difference between each of these services, especially a hand vs. a spray wax, as they often fall closer in price compared to a ceramic coating.  When looking at the detail as a whole, the sealant is often the most important part, as it is what leaves a shiny, protective layer over the paint to help it maintain its shine and clean.  So, in order to make sure you make the right choice of service, we’ll go over the benefits, downsides, and differences between these three detailing services.

Spray Waxing: Quick, Easy, and Affordable.

If you’ve ever taken your vehicle through an automatic car wash, and you notice how the water on the car seems to slide off the vehicle, and the vehicle looks shinier than it did previously?  Yep, that's spray wax.  A spray wax is any form of wax that is applied using only a spray bottle, and provides a temporary, hydrophobic shine.  While automatic car washes aren’t the only ones that use a spray wax, they have made a business out of using them, and many detailers are in the same boat.  After all, spray wax is primarily used as a quick and easy form of sealant, as it requires little-to-no buffing pre-application.  Spray wax is also extremely easy to come across in stores, so it is a primary choice for D.I.Y.ers who want a layer of protection and shine without the hassle of applying a hand wax.

So, why use anything other than a spray wax?  Well, even the most high-quality spray waxes are limited by protection ability and longevity.  A spray wax doesn’t leave much of a layer on the paint, meaning that a spray wax cannot provide as deep of a shine as other options, and is much less effective at protecting the paint.  And, they tend not to last as long as other options.  Regardless, spray waxes are still extremely useful and applicable for detailers, and don’t let it scare you away from choosing a reputable detailer to work with.

Hand Waxing: Longer to Apply, Deeper Shine, and Still Affordable

Before spray waxes were as effective as they were, hand waxes were almost the only choice for anyone looking for a temporary protection and shine for their paint.  And, even with many spray waxes on the market, many enthusiasts swear by a good ole’ hand wax to get the job done.  Coming in a paste form and applied using an applicator pad, a hand wax leaves a physical layer of wax onto the paint, leaving a deep, rich shine and some form of protection of the paint from water and dirt.  As a detailer, we at CB Detailing primarily offer hand waxing over spray waxing, due to the simple fact that the results are both better AND longer lasting in most cases.  While slightly harder to find in stores, hand waxes are still readily available and affordable for the public, coming in at around the same price as a spray wax.  

What’s the catch?  While hand waxing provides oftentimes better results, it is much harder, and takes longer, to apply when compared to a spray wax.  Instead of a simple spray-and-go, a hand wax requires a properly cooled paintwork, a hand application of the paste to every painted surface (making sure not to stain and windows or plastics with the wax), and, after a certain amount of time, buffed from the paint using a microfiber towel.  For many detailers, this process is too time-consuming to be worthwhile for the business, so it isn’t offered.  But, in the end, the results from a quality hand wax speak for themselves against a spray wax.

Ceramic Coating: Expensive, but Long Lasting and Effective.

Taking price and time out of the picture, ceramic coatings are in a different league compared to other forms of sealant and protection.  Ceramic coatings are applied after a paint correction has been completed, and come in different varieties, such as 1-2 year lasting, all the way up to 5-10 years of protection.  When applied, a ceramic coating provides a long lasting shine and protection from water, given its extreme hydrophobic properties that make cleaning and maintaining the paint an absolute breeze.  When it comes to shine, protection, and ease of maintenance, ceramic coatings are, bar-none, the best option.

However, ceramic coatings come with a few downsides, being price, prep work, and difficulty to obtain.  Many ceramic coating services run from $500, all the way up to thousands for higher quality coatings.  And, in order to effectively apply a coating, a paint correction, decontamination, and more are needed to ensure it actually lasts.  On top of this, actually purchasing a ceramic coating bottle is difficult, as many are locked behind certifications that are a pain to get, even for professional, shop-based detailers.  But, in the end, if the budget allows, a ceramic coating is THE sealant to use.

So, What do I Choose?

When comparing sealant options, it is important to ask a few questions to find out what exactly you need.  First, the budget.  For the average person just looking for a detail, a spray wax or hand wax are what you should go with.  But, for anyone with an expensive vehicle that’s worth protecting, a ceramic coating may make more sense.  Next, what level of protection is needed.  At a lower budget, if quick and easy shine is what you desire, choosing a spray wax service is ideal, and if a longer, deeper shine is the goal, a hand wax is the way to go.  And finally, maintenance requirements.  A ceramic coating requires much less maintenance compared to a spray wax or hand wax, where both need to be reapplied for the shine/protection to last, with hand waxes lasting slightly longer than a spray wax.

In the end, with whatever option you select, your vehicle will be left with an added shine and protection that was not there previously, which is one of many benefits to an exterior detail.  Just make sure it fits within your budget, and you’ll be all set.

While we at CB Detailing do not offer ceramic coatings (for the time being), we do offer both hand and spray waxing for vehicle owners on the South Shore or Cape Cod in Massachusetts, so, if that interests you, we’d love to help make your dreams a reality.  Just contact us here, and we’ll be in touch shortly.  And, to become a more informed buyer, reading up on the rest of our blog will help protect you, and your wallet, as you work through giving your car, truck, or SUV the treatment it deserves!