Headlights are a crucial part of the look of your car, but when they’re exposed to the elements, they can get filthy.
In such a case, most people often wonder if ceramic coating is an effective way to protect their headlights from factors that cause damage.
So, should you protect your headlights with ceramic coating?
Quick Answer
You should protect your headlights with ceramic coating. The benefits of doing so are twofold: first, the coating will help keep your headlights clear and sharp; second, it’ll help protect them from UV damage. There are good alternatives on the market, but a ceramic coating is one of the best ways to protect headlights.
The rest of this article will explore all of the details you need to know, so keep reading to have a more informed opinion on whether or not you can protect headlights with ceramic coating.
Can You Use Ceramic Coating on Headlights?
Ceramic coatings are developed to protect various parts of a car from the outside elements, especially when they’re exposed, such as the rims or paint.
According to this article by Forbes, ceramic coatings have many benefits, including UV protection and increased shine on a car.
That said, the elephant in the room is, “can you use ceramic coating on headlights?”
Quick Answer
You can use ceramic coating on headlights. Ceramic coatings are very durable, hard, and offer protection from environmental debris. They will also protect your headlights from discoloration, keeping their shine long-lasting.
Here’s a rundown of the benefits of using ceramic coating on your car’s headlights:
Ceramic Coating Gives Headlights Protection From UV Damage
Ceramic coating protects headlights from harmful UV rays.
While you might not think that this is a big deal, it can indeed cause your lights to crack and fade over time if they’re not adequately protected.
Adam’s Ceramic Coating Kit
This ceramic coating kit from Adam’s comes with everything you could possibly need to protect your headlights properly. Make sure to grab it by following the link!
Sure, you can also use wax to protect your headlights, but the reality is it won’t be nearly as effective.
Your Headlights Can Get Long-Lasting Shine
If you take care of your car’s rims or other parts by ceramic coating them, then they should last for a long time.
It could also be the case with headlight protection if you use this type of coating.
The shine can last for a significant period and shouldn’t be hard to maintain at all.
Tip: If you want to use ceramic coating on your headlights, it’s crucial that you only apply it per the manufacturer’s instructions. This way, you should be able to enjoy the benefits of all of your headlights.
You Can Protect Your Headlights From Particle Damage
The coating also helps prevent all tiny particles of dirt, gravel, or bugs from slamming into your headlights at high speeds.
While you might not think this is a huge deal, it can cause your lights to get chipped or otherwise damaged.
Caution: It’s crucial to understand that because headlights are constantly exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun, they require special care.
It’s recommended that you use a ceramic coating specific for headlights, rather than just using any product with this feature.
Suppose at this point you’ve decided to apply ceramic coating to your car’s headlights.
In that case, here’s an excellent YouTube video that may come in handy:
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How Do You Protect Headlights?
You can protect your car’s headlights in several ways, including using the following:
Here’s a table that compares the methods based on their prices, effectiveness, and simplicity:
| Type of Protection | Price | Effectiveness | Simplicity |
| Hydrophobic coating | A (very cheap) | A (Good for long-term protection) | C (Moderately easy – takes time to do correctly, but not too difficult) |
| Clear coating | A (very cheap) | B (Very effective) | D (You may need to hire a professional to get the best results.) |
| Wax | A (very cheap) | C (Depends on quality; moderate protection if you use a good wax) | B (Easy and quick to apply) |
| Spray sealant | E (very expensive) | A (Very effective) | B (Easy and quick to apply) |
| Headlight protection film | A (very cheap) | C (Moderate protection with quality film) | C (You may need to hire a professional for the best results.) |
| Clear mask protection film | A (very cheap) | C (Moderate protection with quality film) | C (You may need a professional to apply for the best results; it’s challenging to get perfect edges if you do it yourself.) |
| Headlight lens restoration | A (very cheap) | B (Very effective) | C (Moderately difficult — takes time to do properly) |
Hydrophobic Coating (Ceramic Coating) Is Expensive and Hard To Apply
To get optimal headlight protection, you may want to invest in a hydrophobic ceramic coating.
This type of coating is pretty effective, as it’ll form a transparent, protective layer over your headlights.
However, this coating is moderately challenging to apply and expensive.
However, suppose you’re willing to put in the time and money to apply this coating for headlight protection.
In that case, it should provide you with good headlight protection for quite some time because it’s designed to protect against ultraviolet exposure and oxidation.
Because of that, your headlight lenses should be well-protected.
Clear Coating Requires 24 Hours of Curing Time
One of the most effective ways to protect headlights is by applying a clear coating.
This coating can keep dirt away from your lights so that they don’t get chipped or damaged by small particles.
The light should still be able to shine through the clear coating, and you should be able to see out of them without any problems.
However, it would help to note that this coating will need proper prep work and can take about 24 hours for the layer to cure.
Nonetheless, this type of coating is very effective, and you should see results almost immediately.
Wax Isn’t As Good as Ceramic Coating
Another way to protect your headlights is to use wax. While this isn’t the most effective way, it can provide some decent protection for a decent amount of time.
However, there are a few problems with using wax.
First of all, it won’t give you the kind of protection you’ll find with ceramic coating.
Additionally, wax can smear and cause your lights to appear hazy, which could be dangerous if they aren’t letting enough light through.
Spray Sealant Allows for an Additional Coating
Another alternative for protecting your headlights is to use a spray sealant.
This spray would need to be applied to all of the exterior parts of your car, including your lights.
After you apply it, you should allow it to dry before driving to get the most protection from it.
However, when using this type of product, you need to be aware that it’s not as protective as other products.
The only reason why this might be your preferred choice is that it’ll allow you to apply an extra layer of coating on top of any existing clear coating or wax coatings you have used previously.
Clear Bra Protection Film Doesn’t Offer Permanent Headlight Protection
Another way to protect your lights is by using clear bra protection film.
It’ll be in the form of a self-adhesive film wrapped around the corners of your headlights so that they can’t get damaged.
This film can be removed and reapplied, so it doesn’t have permanent effects.
However, you should keep in mind that this clear bra protection film won’t provide the same kind of protection as other options such as coating or waxing your lights because it’s not designed to be permanent for headlight protection purposes.
Clear Mask Protection Film Only Offers Temporary Solutions
While this doesn’t offer the best type of protection, you can try using the clear mask for headlight protection.
It will come in the form of adhesive plastic that covers your headlights to prevent chips and cracks.
Afterward, it should be removed whenever you wash your car or clean your headlights.
However, just like with clear bras, it won’t provide you with the best headlight protection because it’s a temporary covering.
Furthermore, if you apply it yourself, you might have trouble getting the edges to line upright.
Headlight Lens Restoration Will Give You Long-Lasting Effects
A more permanent way to protect your headlights is by headlight lens restoration.
3M Headlight Restoration Kit
Make sure to properly restore your headlights before applying a ceramic coating. This 3M headlight restoration kit is perfect for this job!
It will resurface your headlight lenses, which will work to help keep them looking good for a more extended period than other methods would.
However, you should know that this process isn’t very simple — it usually takes up to two hours to complete, and you’ll need to make sure that you get the procedure done correctly.
Key Takeaways
Sources
Bestnet Review: How To Protect Your Headlights After Restoration (Physical Damage)
MyCarForum: Clear Protective Film(Windscreen and Headlights)
Forbes: Best Ceramic Coatings for 2021
AutogeekOnline: Thread: How Safe Long Term Are Ceramic Coatings on Headlights?
eEuroparts: Different Options and Benefits of Headlight Protection
