Some take it for granted that you must use wax on automotive paint to protect it.
While there is little argument that wax provides a degree of protection,
there is a mounting argument that wax removal is damaging to the paint.

All wax is not made the same, some wash off with hot water and soap while others can get so hard chemicals and or abrasive methods are required.


The hardest wax to remove it also the most celebrated for its hardness, shine and longevity. "carnauba wax".


Carnauba wax comes from trees, it its natural form carnauba cannot be used as a wax alone it must be blended with other materials to be usable.


Carnauba can become almost as hard as stone when it dries and solidifies.
That would be great if you did not have to remove it from time to time.


The problem with wax is like all natural things it naturally ages and when it does it becomes dull, yellows and fades.


A soft liquid or spray on wax is more forgiving because it does not resist removal and requires very little or no buffing during application.


A hard drying paste or cream will require excessive buffing to apply and excessive friction to remove.


Unlike the enamel paints of the past which were soft, went on thick and could be buffed until it shines, By comparison modern acrylic paint is hard and the finish layer or the "shine" is extremely thin and fragile.


There have always been alternatives to wax, glazes, spray on shine and liquid polish are some. recent technology has introduced new technologies in automotive paint care that provide protection without compromise.
liquid spray on non abrasive fast shine products that do not require removal will allow you to preserve the surface layer and maintain the original shine.
With acrylic paint less contact is more beneficial.


If you are a believer in wax application, buffing, polishing, stripping and claying your paint, keep doing what you are doing, The damage has already been done and there is no turning back.
If you are up in the air about it and find the advice you have been getting requires you to use something called "elbow grease", don't do it.
"Elbow Grease" is another way of saying "a lot of work", which translates into excessive buffing equaling damaging friction.


Friction is the last thing you want to subject acrylic paint to. unlike enamel acrylic does not recover from excessive buffing, the damage is so minute in the beginning it is no readily noticeable but over time you will seen a marked difference in the overall shine as it slowly begins to loose its luster and become saturated with tiny spider web type scratches that display themselves most vividly in bright sunlight.


For acrylic paint a 100% pure liquid non abrasive product that does not require removal and can be applied in extremes hot or cold temperature (which eliminates waxes blended with water due to their propensity to freeze and evaporate ), is best suited to preserve the original luster and shine.


If you use wax try this test to see the difference in the condition of the paint.
Compare the paint on the inside of the door jams or the underside of the trunk or "boot" which you may have never waxed to the part you have waxed.


For those who have never used wax especially those with a new or newer car or truck, my advice is DON'T DO IT. LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND. FIND A MODERN DAY ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL PRESERVE AS WELL AS PROTECT MODERN DAY ACRYLIC PAINT.
Your car or truck will look better longer, with less effort.