Ceramic protection Gyeon Q² Pure EVO – paint preparation and application step by step

Ceramic paint protection is now a common part of car care, yet there are many uncertainties about its application and performance. Some see it as a solution that will simplify washing and maintenance for years, others as a complicated process only for professionals. The reality is somewhere in between. In the following article we will therefore show the entire application procedure from thorough paint preparation to the final application of the ceramic coating. We will also add some practical tips and experience from practice, because we are writing this several months after the actual application.What to focus on when choosing a ceramic coatingA little theory to start in a simple form. A ceramic coating is a thin, chemically resistant layer based on silicon dioxide that bonds to the paint surface after application and creates a protective shield against external influences. The paint does not become immortal, but its resistance to chemicals, insects, bird droppings, UV radiation and ordinary dirt increases significantly. Compared to waxes or sealants, ceramic coatings offer higher chemical resistance, longer durability, a stronger hydrophobic effect and usually a more pronounced gloss. It is precisely the combination of protection and visual effect that makes ceramic coatings the pinnacle of paint surface protection.There are a large number of ceramic coatings on the market today and the differences between them are not always directly proportional to their price. When choosing, it is good to watch not only the declared lifespan but also chemical resistance, hardness and the difficulty of application. It is not true that cheaper ceramic coatings are automatically easier to apply. Modern higher-class coatings tend to be more stable, have a longer open time for buffing and are less sensitive to small application errors. You partly pay extra for that certainty – and for a beginner a higher-quality product can paradoxically be the safer choice.In general, ceramic coatings can be divided from user-friendly one-year variants through two- to three-year protections up to semi-professional and certified systems intended for detailing studios. Each product can behave slightly differently, so we recommend checking user reviews, choosing specialized manufacturers and not being afraid to ask – we are happy to help with the selection.Paint preparation determines the resultChoosing the right type of ceramic coating is certainly important, but the alpha and omega is paint preparation. Ceramic coating is not a solution for a few months. If it is to work on the paint for several years and offer appropriate chemical resistance, a strong hydrophobic effect and high gloss, the substrate must be properly prepared. And given the results that a quality ceramic coating can deliver, it is fair to give it the conditions in which it can function to the fullest.Ideal preparation before applying a ceramic coating should include the following steps:1) Thorough wash of the body with shampoo.2) Chemical decontamination and subsequent washing.3) Mechanical decontamination using clay.4) Polishing to remove defects and unify the surface (depending on the overall condition of the paint).5) Final de-greasing before the actual application.Only on such a prepared paint does it make sense to apply a ceramic coating with multi-year durability. If you don’t feel like doing detailed preparation, it’s more sensible to choose a less demanding form of protection – for example the simpler ceramic coating Gyeon Q² CanCoat EVO, which tolerates practically anything and can be applied even by a complete beginner. Full-fledged ceramic protection for several years simply deserves the appropriate approach.Washing and decontamination as the absolute basicsThe whole process starts with a thorough hand wash using a shampoo. Neutral shampoos without added wax or ceramic additives are ideal, for example Gyeon Q²M Bathe or the popular Lusso from Carbon Collective. If the car is heavily soiled, a stronger decontamination variant of shampoo is not a bad idea. Active foam, even if more aggressively alkaline, is not enough on its own – the paint must be truly clean.Next comes chemical decontamination. During use, paint traps metal particles and tar spots that ordinary washing will not remove. Products like Gyeon Q²M Iron, or any other similar product you prefer, work on iron fallout. For tar we recommend the tried-and-tested Gyeon Q²M Tar. After chemical decontamination we recommend washing the car again to remove chemical residues.If the surface is still slightly rough, even locally, mechanical decontamination with clay comes into play. That removes the remaining contamination that adheres most to the paint. After clay it is advisable to wash the car again and dry it thoroughly. We have described the correct procedure for both chemical and mechanical decontamination in a separate article, where you will find the entire process step by step. So we will skip to the next topic.Polishing the paint: necessary or not?Polishing seems complicated and many people prefer to avoid it. Besides extra work it also means another investment. Is it necessary then? The answer is simple – it depends. For one-year protections and paint without significant defects it is not always necessary. But if you prepare the car for a multi-year ceramic coating, it makes sense to have the surface truly in perfect condition.We verified this in practice on our BMW 3 Series from 2023. The relatively new car’s paint looked good at first glance – without significant scratches or holograms and still with a partially functioning layer of the original ceramic protection. That was precisely the problem. Even after thorough decontamination there remained water marks and deposits on the paint that could not be removed by ordinary washing or chemicals. It was therefore not a mistake in preparation, but the condition of the surface and residues of the previous protection that had to be removed mechanically. Barely noticeable in daylight, under artificial light it was not a pretty sight.It is also important to mention that the old protective layer must be completely removed before application. Wax or sealant at the end of their life are easily removed by the preceding steps, but you cannot remove a ceramic coating without machine polishing. The good news is that you don’t need extremely expensive equipment. We worked with a Liquid Elements polisher costing around 5,000 CZK, which is perfectly sufficient for hobby use and less busy professionals.The choice of compound, pad and number of steps always depends on the specific condition of the paint and experience. In our case colleague David chose a two-step polish – first a medium-cut compound Gyeon Q²M Compound with a medium-hard red pad, followed by a finishing polish Q²M Finish and a softer blue pad. After both steps the paint looked almost perfect and the best was still to come.This procedure and product selection is of course not the only correct path and may vary according to paint condition and personal preferences. The important thing is to understand the principle: before applying a multi-year ceramic coating a quality paint correction simply makes sense. We are preparing a dedicated article about paint polishing where you will learn all the details.De-greasing: the final step before applicationBefore the ceramic coating itself is applied, the paint must be clean and de-greased so the ceramic layer can bond perfectly. It is ideal to use a specialized de-greaser or classic Isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Most car care manufacturers have their own variant – we have long had good experience with Gyeon Q²M Prep, which does its job one hundred percent. The application itself is simple: we recommend spraying the product onto the paint, letting it act briefly and wiping it off with a clean microfiber cloth. Prep evaporates immediately and leaves the surface de-greased and streak-free.The exact procedure differs mainly depending on whether you plan to polish or not:If you do not polish:- After decontamination, wash the car, dry it thoroughly and then de-grease the entire paint.- Then you can proceed to applying the ceramic coating.If you polished:- De-greasing is absolutely necessary. Polishing pastes contain oils that would prevent the coating from bonding correctly.- Therefore de-grease the paint thoroughly, even in two steps if needed, and inspect it under good light.Application of ceramic coating Gyeon Q² Pure EVOFor our BMW and this article we chose Gyeon Q² Pure EVO. This ceramic coating offers excellent chemical resistance and hydrophobic properties, top gloss, and at the same time is among the most application-friendly ceramic protections. Compared to many competing products and higher Gyeon variants it has a longer open time for buffing, so you don’t have to panic and can work calmly. For our BMW we chose the 50 ml volume to be safe, which was more than enough for the whole car with some left over.We have decontaminated, polished and de-greased – only the application remains. Ideally work in a garage with a stable temperature of approximately 15–25 °C in a dry, dust-free environment. Modern ceramic coatings from Gyeon with the EVO designation do allow outdoor application, but even in that case you must watch the body temperature, avoid direct sunlight and plan the work according to the weather forecast. The first few hours after application, when the layer is curing, are just as important as the application itself.The kit contains the coating, an application block and suede cloths. We also recommend preparing 3 to 4 new microfiber towels with a closed loop, ideal for buffing off the ceramic coating – for example the Purestar Speed Polish Towel. One practical rule: if a towel falls on the ground, discard it without mercy. Don’t forget good lighting. A strong work lamp or a headlamp will help you spot any missed residues in time.Step-by-step application procedure- Never forget protective gloves.- The paint must be completely dry. No water droplets or moisture in the folds of the body. If you are not sure, wait.- Shake the bottle with the coating thoroughly.- Drop the coating onto the supplied applicator, which has a suede cloth attached.- Apply in cross-hatch motions to only one section of the body at a time (e.g. half the hood, a door, a fender).- After about 10 minutes (depending on temperature and conditions) wipe the coating off with a microfiber towel.- At higher temperatures shorten the time between application and wiping.- Continue panel by panel until finished.What happens in the following hours and daysAfter application and careful buffing the physical work on the paint ends, but an equally important curing process begins. In the first hours the ceramic layer initially bonds to the paint. During this phase it is very important that the car remains dry and ideally at a stable temperature. We recommend leaving the car for at least 12 hours in a garage or covered space, without contact with water, dust or morning dew. If you apply outdoors, it is important to monitor the weather forecast – heavy rain shortly after application can disturb the fresh layer.The first 24 hours the coating is most vulnerable. If it comes into contact with water, it is advisable to gently dry the drops as soon as possible. Chemical curing is still taking place in this phase and dried water can create mineral marks that are harder to remove than on fully cured ceramic.Full curing of the ceramic layer takes roughly 7 to 14 days. During this time we recommend not washing the car and avoiding aggressive car care chemicals. Ordinary rain does not harm the coating, but active washing with shampoo or other chemicals could disrupt the maturation process. Only after this period can you expect the ceramic protection to reach its full chemical resistance, maximum hydrophobic effect and final hardness.Even ceramic is not immortal – how to care for it?One thing must be said outright – ceramic protection is not maintenance-free! Yes, it greatly simplifies washing, reduces dirt adhesion and increases chemical resistance, but if you do not take care of it, it will gradually degrade and lose its properties.The basis is regular washing. Ideally at least once a month with a classic, clean shampoo without added waxes or protective ingredients. The ceramic coating itself provides protection – there is no need to “cover” it with other products at every wash.Occasional application of the ceramic sealant Gyeon Q²M Cure will gently revive the coating layer and help maintain its performance over time. The sealant is also available directly in a kit with Pure EVO. Gyeon also recommends occasionally using the decontamination shampoo RestartWash. It contains ingredients similar to iron removers and helps remove settled dirt and iron fallout without damaging the ceramic protection. It is a very effective way to “deep clean” the coating and restore maximum performance.If you take care of the ceramic, you can enjoy all its benefits for the declared period – in the case of Pure EVO up to 3 years or approximately 40,000 km. And that is worth it.Final observations from daily useWe applied the ceramic protection to the BMW in October last year. It is now the end of February, the car has gone through autumn and most of the winter, so we can already share the first real observations from use. How does Pure EVO behave in practice?I have personally done countless applications of various protections – from natural, hybrid and synthetic waxes, through sealants to ceramic coatings from other manufacturers. What Pure EVO clearly excels at on first sight is gloss. On the Dravit Grey shade from the BMW Individual range the golden metallic flakes were emphasized and the paint gained a depth that ordinary protection simply cannot offer. This effect is most pronounced in sunlight and is a joy to behold.Beading and water drainage are also striking. You will love those droplets and look forward to every rain. Water also runs off the paint extremely quickly. After rain or washing, often a short drive at higher speed is enough and most of the water is gone. Traditional towel drying is also more effective because virtually no water remains on the paint after rinsing.And winter operation? So far the ceramic coating handles it without problems. A thorough wash in this winter’s freezing temperatures is out of the question, but a quick treatment with Gyeon Q²M Bug & Grime and a subsequent rinse with water does the job. That is enough to keep the paint clean and preserve all properties. The paint will receive regular care again with the arrival of spring.Ceramic protection therefore clearly makes sense – and if done correctly, it will return the invested time in the form of a long-term and impressive result.