Absolutely! Some people wax + Hydro and others just Hydro.

The only exception to this is if you use a carnauba-based wax (all paste waxes and a few liquid waxes). Hydro cannot bond well to a carnauba wax due to the wax itself and the oils that are in all carnauba-based waxes. If you are using a carnauba wax and really love it but still want to use Hydro, your only option is to apply Hydro then the carnauba but not the other way around.

-Heather

 

Thanks. Now the question, Miss Heather, is--why do people use carnauba waxes? Do they do a better job or are they simply a different path to very similar results?

 

Got my gallon refills of Slick and Hydro today from DP. I'm set for at least a month!

 

For the most part, different strokes for different folks. Let me elaborate...

In the far past, there were only carnauba waxes. For some people, they just have never changed or are afraid to change. For others, there are other good reasons to stick with carnaubas (keep reading).

In the more recent past, there were carnauba waxes and a few synthetic waxes. These synthetic waxes were not much more durable than carnauba waxes and yet had a less appealing look (too much reflection only and not any depth or richness). Many of these synthetics are still around today.

Now, there are carnauba waxes, many non-durable and not-to-rich synthetic waxes, and a few durable and better looking synthetic waxes. This gives the user many more choices... which can be fun and also more daunting!


The first difference is appearance. In general, carnauba waxes tend to produce the most depth, in a very rich and warm way. As I mentioned already, many synthetic waxes produce a shine-only look without any depth. Sure, we all want shine but on dark colors too much shine-only can visually take away some of that great darkness in your color (ie, black will look almost silvery in bright light).
Some of the newer synthetics today produce a new kind of depth- it isn't the same as a carnauba depth but much deeper than the other synthetics. For example, Epic gives a rich glossy wet-look kind of depth that makes the paint almost lively rather than the mellow kind of carnauba depth. So, from a look standpoint, it depends on what you like.

The other really big difference is durability. Carnauba waxes, in general, should be reapplied every 30-45 days for full protection. Synthetics can go either way depending on the brand. Most mass-marketed brand synthetic waxes are not very durable, with some lasting less than a carnauba and others lasting longer. Some of the premium brands (ie, Prima Epic, Zaino, Four Star, Klasse Sealant Glaze) of synthetic wax outlive the others by a large margin... as a general rule around 5-6 months.


Despite the durability issues, some people just prefer the carnauba look. Or, I know some people who simply enjoy the process of applying a paste wax over a liquid wax (especially with silky nice ones like P21S and Sovereign, for example).
Note also that some people like the benefit of both types and use both... you can always apply a layer of synthetic wax for protection and then top with a carnauba wax for the look (and just for fun).

Overall though, the industry has seen that most people are moving more towards the new synthetics that offer both extended durability and protection as well as a nice variation on depth.

-Heather

 

Thanks, Miss Heather.

Can synthetics, like Hydro, be applied in patches? Say I cleaned the bugs off the front, which I think will strip the synthetic off, can I apply a synth wax seamlessly?

 

Great question... because I think it is common for someone to clean off bugs with a product that strips wax (most do).

Yes, this is actually a great use of Hydro. You can quickly and easily replenish your wax in the areas where you have just stripped it by applying Hydro to just those areas.

-Heather

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread but this raised a question for me.

Can I use hydro after banana gloss? I guess not according to this quote? I was toying with the idea of using epic about twice a year, BG quarterly and hydro after each wash. But maybe that isn't possible or necessary. Should I just skip the BG step?