There would be no detailing and car care without the age-old question: what to use to protect the paint? There are plenty of options to choose from. However, today we will focus on two of the most established solutions: waxes and ceramic coatings.
At Soft99, we offer both of these solutions, expanding our full range of waxes in 2020 to include QJUTSU quartz coatings. Today, we’ll focus on this series of coatings and two popular, seemingly completely different waxes that we compare side by side for a reason: Fusso Coat 12 Months and Mirror Shine.
Which ceramic coating? QJUTSU!
Quartz coatings are a modern and popular way to protect paint, and you can already find them in most car dealerships when buying a new car. Ceramic coatings (also called quartz or sometimes glass coatings) create a durable, quartz-based chemical layer on the paint surface that protects against various external factors.
The coating is slippery, which increases the wetting angle (the angle at which a droplet touches the surface), also known as hydrophobicity or water shedding. These same properties also make it harder for dirt to stick, which positively impacts the appearance and condition of the paint.
Few people know this, but Soft99 has almost 25 years of experience in quartz coatings, as we launched the G'zox network focused on coatings in Japan in 2001, which continues to grow worldwide to this day. We’ve turned this experience into excellent QJUTSU products:
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QJUTSU Body Coat – a single-component coating that combines ease of application with 12-month protection. Ideal for those just starting their ceramic coating journey.
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QJUTSU Body Coat Matte – designed for matte paints and protective films, it protects the surface without adding unnecessary gloss. Strong hydrophobicity and 24-month durability.
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QJUTSU Body Coat Pro – a two-component premium coating with the strongest hydrophobicity, impressive shine, and durability up to 24 months.
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QJUTSU Universal – a universal quartz coating for various surfaces, including paint, film (even matte), and metal parts. Durability: 18 months.
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QJUTSU Wheel & Light Coat – heat-resistant coating for rims, exhaust elements, engines, and headlights.
What car wax to choose? Check out Soft99’s range
Car waxes are a popular method for protecting paint, boasting of a long and established tradition. Often wrongly considered outdated, it is still a growing global market. This should come as no surprise, as waxes have long moved beyond the days of difficult pastes squeezed from tubes or the greasy, non-pure Carnauba waxes that left us with smeared, streaky marks and headaches unless we spent hours polishing.
Today, waxes are also modern and user-friendly solutions. They require more frequent application than ceramic coatings but allow for quick and effective car protection, forgiving many mistakes.
In Soft99’s wax range, you’ll find 11 different waxes, each created to cater to various users’ preferences. For this blog post, we’ll present two distinctly different solutions that showcase the diversity of the wax world.
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Fusso Coat 12 Months – a hit, bestseller, and fan favourite among detailers worldwide. So popular that "apply Fusso" has become a classic response on detailing forums. This synthetic wax, based on a safe blend of fluoropolymers, provides protection for up to 12 months. It features excellent hydrophobicity, reduces dirt buildup, and is very efficient – one can is enough for up to 30 applications on a medium-sized car. No wonder it’s the favourite wax of those who carefully watch every penny. Is there a catch? Application can be tricky for beginners, so we always recommend moistening the applicator before use and applying it to small panels to prevent the wax from drying out.
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Mirror Shine – at the opposite end of the spectrum is Mirror Shine, a wax for those who value simplicity in application. But that’s not all! You’ll get solid, 3-month protection without having to wait for the wax to bond with the paint. The high-quality microfibre cloth included with the can is all you need – simply rub the wax into the paint, and you're done. It’s no coincidence we named it this way; it’s an incredibly glossy wax, perfect for that eye-catching finish.
Coating or wax – which to choose?
The choice between a coating and wax is always an individual matter, and everyone has their opinion. When analysing the products, it’s worth considering: what do we really need? Our market experience tells us that the strongest, most durable, and most expensive solutions are not necessarily the most popular!
So, what should you consider when choosing wax or ceramic coating?
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Durability: Ceramic coatings are more durable – from 12 to 24 months, compared to waxes, which last up to 12 months under optimal conditions (e.g., Fusso Coat 12 Months). Don’t believe the marketing miracles promised by some coating manufacturers – coatings claiming 3, 5, or even 7 years of protection should be taken with a grain of salt. The key to coating durability is regular maintenance. With proper care, you can get up to 5 years of protection with top-tier and highly advanced coatings like G'zox Hi-MOHS Coat.
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Visual effect: "What shines more" is always a debatable topic. Both QJUTSU Body Coat, especially in the Pro version, and Fusso Coat 12 Months or Mirror Shine will deliver great results, though fans of a vivid, crisp shine will particularly enjoy ceramic coatings for their glassy finish.
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Cost: Waxes are more affordable, easier to apply, and in our opinion, provide more fun (which can also be an important factor!). An underrated aspect is that even kids can handle wax, and working on protecting the car can be a great offline, manual activity that brings parents and children closer. Ceramic coatings, on the other hand, will require more precision, proper conditions, and often professional application.
If you’re looking for long-lasting protection and are ready to invest time and resources in professional paint protection, choose a ceramic coating, especially the QJUTSU Body Coat Pro, which offers a 24-month durability confirmed by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee. For those who prefer easier application and more budget-friendly solutions, Fusso Coat 12 Months, Mirror Shine, Extreme Gloss Kiwami, or King of Gloss will be excellent choices. Regardless of your decision, both waxes and ceramics from Soft99 guarantee excellent paint protection.