How to protect/maintain a matte or PPF-wrapped vehicle?

• Products: Halo, Cure Matte.
• Manufacturers: GTECHNIQ, GYEON.
• Sizes: 30ml and 50ml (Halo), 400ml (Cure Matte).

Matte finishes are always tricky to maintain. PPF films are no exception, and few people know that they can (and should) be protected.

Fortunately, the leading names in ceramic protection — GTECHNIQ and GYEON — are here to offer dedicated products that are very easy to use.

In this article, we will test two very interesting products: one to durably protect your PPF film or matte surface (Halo), and one to regularly maintain it (Cure Matte).


Description:

Halo is a long-lasting ceramic protection from GTECHNIQ, a true reference in the field. This product was designed to protect vinyl surfaces (PPF and wraps), whether matte or glossy. Halo seals the pores of these porous surfaces to prevent deep contamination by particles that would become very difficult to remove later.
Because that is the real problem with films: the porosity of the substrate.

Halo also provides long-term UV protection to prevent colored wraps from fading or PPF films from yellowing over time.



Cure Matte by GYEON is an excellent maintenance or quick protection product for your matte bodywork or matte films, designed not to break the matte visual effect.
You can apply it on all matte substrates, including raw plastics. It delivers a very strong hydrophobic effect to make maintenance of these delicate substrates easier.

Cure Matte can be used as a direct complement during the maintenance phase of your Halo protection.



Application:

Before using Halo by GTECHNIQ, make sure to thoroughly decontaminate the substrate chemically (not mechanically with a clay bar) and degrease it. Above all, do not polish the film with a standard body polish, let alone a compound — you will damage the film. If needed, use GYEON PPF Renew to repair an oxidized, dull, or slightly defective film.

Degrease your surface with an Oil Cleaner of your choice (Prep, Eraser, Paddock, etc.)




Once your surface is perfectly degreased and dry, you can begin applying Halo to your film and matte surfaces.
Inside the kit provided by GTECHNIQ, you will find, as usual, in addition to the product vial, a finger mitt applicator, a pair of protective gloves, a holographic sticker, and an instruction manual.

Let's talk about the included applicator. It is not very ergonomic for use on large surfaces (hoods, roofs, etc.), and it is strongly recommended to use a foam applicator block with a suede pad (10x10cm) as found with other manufacturers.





Start by applying a fairly generous line of Halo onto your suede pad on the first application. Matte surfaces and films absorb more product, so don't be surprised to use a bit more.



Then apply Halo over sections of approximately 60cm x 60cm, following the lines suggested by the design of the panels where possible.

You'll notice quite a bit of drag when applying on the PPF film, which is perfectly normal. The smell is not as unpleasant as some other ceramics. Still, plan to wear a protective mask and of course gloves.

Applying Halo to the substrate will leave a wet haze. Recommended flash time is approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on temperature conditions. You should see the "micro-bubbling" haze appear on the surface, similar to Crystal Serum Light for example.





Buffing is done with a double-sided microfiber cloth such as the Black Velvet. Overall the buffing goes smoothly — slightly greasier than with a ceramic for painted surfaces, but nothing dramatic.



However, it is important to note a very significant phenomenon you should keep in mind.

Halo, like all other treatments for matte surfaces (films or paint), will tend to slightly satin the substrate. This can be seen in the following photos where surfaces have been treated 50/50.







So if your goal is to perfectly preserve the original full-matte look, you should not apply this type of treatment. Granted, the treatment durability of approximately 15,000 km is not very concerning as it is not extremely long-lasting. If needed, the Halo treatment, like all those dedicated to matte surfaces, can be removed with an IPA-based Oil Cleaner.

Halo can also work perfectly on matte rims without overly altering the visual appearance. In this specific case of treating rims, the included applicator will be useful as it is very ergonomic for working around the spokes.






To regularly maintain your ceramic protection, GYEON Cure Matte is the perfect product.
It is a ceramic-based Quick Wax that makes washing very easy and prevents spotting (water spots in particular, which are notoriously difficult to remove from matte substrates).

Since the rear of the test vehicle is not wrapped, Cure Matte is perfect as a supplementary protection (the rear section being due to be wrapped at a later stage).

The advantage of Cure Matte is its ease of use.



You can either spray it directly onto the substrate or, preferably, onto a microfiber cloth beforehand (Black Velvet for example). This latter application method is recommended to avoid any product overload that would be difficult to remove.





There are no surprises when applying Cure Matte. Very easy to apply, no residual haze, and it does not alter the original appearance either. It can also be used on all matte or wrapped surfaces of your car (raw plastics, rims, etc.)

Conclusion:

GTECHNIQ once again confirms the quality of its products. Halo is easy to apply and easy to buff off, preventing any mistakes on surfaces that are difficult to correct (films, matte finishes).
If you are preparing a vehicle for a customer, make sure to inform them that the finish will be slightly satin, as this is inherent to any ceramic treatment for films or matte surfaces — no surprises on their end.

GYEON Cure Matte is an outstanding product. No mistakes are possible with this product, unlike its counterpart for glossy painted surfaces (Cure). It will be indispensable for maintaining your ceramic protections. Highly recommended!

Advantages

+ GTECHNIQ reliability.
+ Ease of product application.
+ Fairly durable protection (Halo).

Disadvantages

- Fairly high price for Cure Matte (€33 for 400ml).
- Slightly more satin finish than the original. (depends on personal preference)