How to best choose your ceramic protection?

The choice of a so-called ceramic long-lasting protection for a user can quickly turn into a headache, given the overwhelming offer and the numerous treatment possibilities on the various surfaces.

In this article, we will attempt to take stock and best guide your choices according to your priorities.


Choice based on the surface to be treated:

It should be noted that ceramic treatment is not reserved solely for the bodywork, far from it even. You can treat almost all the surfaces and materials that equip your car with a ceramic treatment. You simply need to make sure to choose a treatment dedicated to that specific material.

Which surfaces can be treated with a ceramic treatment? The painted bodywork (metallic painted clear coat, opaque, matte or gloss direct), wheels, seals, bare plastics, leather and its derivatives, glass, alcantara and various fabrics, PPF and wrap...
This list is not yet exhaustive and other materials in specific fields (boat gel coats for example) can find a suitable treatment.

Although there is a diversity of treatments depending on the material, there is a real difference in compositions to adapt to the material. You could not use a bodywork ceramic treatment, more heavily loaded with silica and more rigid, on leather for example, which needs to retain its flexibility and elasticity.


Different formats:

Technologies and transformation techniques have evolved enormously in recent years, and you can now find ceramic treatments in various forms. The goal is to be able to offer a treatment to every type of user, professional, experienced or amateur. Application tends to be increasingly simple and fast, but we will see that you cannot win on all fronts.

Still a good ten to fifteen years ago, you could only find liquid-based ceramic treatments to be applied with a traditional applicator. An often technical application requiring some professional skills, which could often deter inexperienced users.

Nowadays, you encounter ceramic treatments in spray format or even aerosol formats, or synthetic treatments with a ceramic "infusion". The latter are a bit particular because it is not truly a ceramic treatment in the strict sense of the term in terms of composition, but which tends to boost synthetic polymers with the advantages of silicon dioxide in particular.

A huge number of brands now offer treatments that are much simpler to implement. Let us cite for example HENDLEX with DC60. A true reference for its versatility and its very interesting durability given the ease of application. You spray, you wipe, you're done!

We could also mention Q2 Cancoat EVO by GYEON. A ceramic treatment similar in application to DC60 by HENDLEX.

As mentioned, the goal is truly to be able to offer simpler application alternatives to an inexperienced user with little risk of error.

You always find this ease of application in treatments for other surfaces, such as those dedicated to leather for example: GYEON Q2 LeatherCoat Redefined or ANGELWAX Enigma Trinity.



Which ceramic treatment will suit me best?

This is actually a real question to ask yourself. Several types of treatments exist as we have seen, and many people legitimately ask themselves this question.

The first thing to take into account is the following: Do you have any experience in applying a true liquid ceramic treatment?
If the answer is no, then a spray solution, much easier to implement, will be recommended.
If on the other hand you have already experimented through training, workshops etc., then you can venture into applying a full-on ceramic treatment, with an applicator and suede cloth.

Then there is the question of application conditions, which will come into play. Do you have the right working conditions to apply a ceramic treatment? That is to say a closed, ventilated, dry and sufficiently lit space. A garage bay for example or a basement. Do not consider applying a ceramic treatment outdoors without a marquee or some kind of solution to manage weather conditions.


Conclusion:

To the question "How to best choose your ceramic protection?", the answers will depend on your ability to apply such a treatment but also on the application conditions in which you will be working.
There is no truly bad treatment, at least not among those from major brands. Simply, you will find it easier to apply spray treatments such as DC60 by HENDLEX rather than Crystal Serum Light by GTECHNIQ.
If you are looking for maximum durability, you will of course need to opt for liquid treatments to be applied with a suede cloth and applicator, or otherwise go through a professional whose job it is and who has access to even more technical products.

The rule, however, is to take your time no matter what, and above all to respect the preliminary steps (washing, decontamination, polishing) in order to get the most out of the treatment.

A huge number of brands are currently references on the market, let us cite for example: CARPRO, FICTECH, GTECHNIQ, GYEON, ANGELWAX, HENDLEX etc. You will definitely find the product suited to your experience and your conditions of use among these brands.