QUOTE(KrisMas @ Oct 30 2013, 08:48 AM)
First and foremost, again, MAINTENANCE.
After you apply wax/sealant, maintain the upkeep with regular wash, at least once a week if possible. Spray waxes/sealants (eg. DG Aquawax, Optimum Car Wax, Sonax Brilliat Shine, Dodo Juice Red Mist, Mothers Spray Wax, 3M Quick Wax Spray, etc.) would prolong the need to re-wax/re-seal if used after a couple of washes. Most importantly, they are very convenient to use and it would take only about 5min ~ 10min to apply. When I was using these combo, I only needed to re-apply 'proper' wax/sealant around every
4 months ~ 6 months or so, depending on the weather conditions and mileage. So, if you adhere to a proper maintenance regime, the annual polish/wax as 'recommended' my most automotive supplier *could* apply. If not, you'd most probably need to re-do monthly or bi-monthly, depending on the products used (provided that it's done properly). Complicated? A little....yeah. But to put simply, if you see the beading or sheeting of water aren't to your liking anymore, or when you see black/dirt streaks or stain not coming off after a wash, signs are the paint is in need of a fresh layer of protection.
Without any details of what product, tools, method, etc. you're planning on using, I can only suggest one thing - PATIENCE. DO NOT RUSH and make sure you allow ample time to finish the whole process. Good luck and have fun ya.
I have to admit I'm an avid fan of Meguiars when it come to polishes. Though I've tried quite a few other brands, Megs' polishes are ones that can always be trusted and worked *almost* every time when it's used for its intended purposes. Most of other brands are hit-and-miss for me. It could well be due to the fact that I'm kinda used to them and their workings but, if anything, Megs would be a good starting point to get to know about detailing.
Oh....and the 'looks great' is more like 70% skills/techniques and 30% product....just in case some products didn't work as expected/marketed....

I just start to pickup this hobby, no super duper detailing work that I will do, but just want a clean and shinning car, need some sifu advise if i done something not right as my wax didnt last more than 2 week, here are the thing i do:
1. rinse
2. Wash with some un branded shampoo got from hypermarket
3. Rinse
4. Clay with 3M clay bar, use the shampoo as lubricant, go through the surface genially until no more roughness is felt when the clay was rubbed over it
5. Wash
6. Rinse
7. Dry
8. Apply DG Aquwax 951 on a dry MF towel and wipe it on the surface
9. Buff after 5minutes with MF towel
My car was park outdoor all the time, and is raining almost everyday in KL. I think the shin, smoothness and water repel effect is not that good after 1 wash or 2 weeks. Is there anything I done wrong? Or I should use better shampoo?