Do You Really Need an Adhesion Promoter Polish Before Ceramic Coating?
Wondering if you need to add an adhesion promoter polish (APP) to your ceramic coating process? The answer might surprise you — especially if you’re using a modern polish like Picture Perfect Polish.
What Is an Adhesion Promoter Polish?
Adhesion promoter polishes (APPs) like C6 Ceramics Adhesion Promoter Polish are marketed as specialty polishes that help ceramic coatings bond better to your paint.
Typically, APP products are used after a full paint correction as an extra polishing step to enhance surface tension and remove remaining oils or residue.
The goal is to create the “perfect” surface for ceramic coating adhesion — but here’s the problem:
- Most high-quality modern polishes already leave the surface ready for coating
- APP adds time, product cost, and unnecessary complexity
- Many pros view APPs as a redundant step designed more for marketing than true necessity
How Modern One-Step Polishes Simplify the Process
Polishes like Picture Perfect Polish are formulated to:
- Correct paint defects (swirls, oxidation, scratches)
- Finish down to a high-gloss, coating-ready surface
- Prime the paint for ceramic coating adhesion
- Eliminate the need for an additional adhesion promoter or panel wipe in most cases
This means that with one efficient step, your paint is both corrected and perfectly prepped — no extra polishing passes required.
When APPs Might Be Useful (Rarely)
There are very few cases where an APP provides measurable benefit:
- If you’re using an older polishing system that leaves significant polishing oils behind
- If your polish doesn’t finish down clean enough for coatings
- If the manufacturer of your specific ceramic coating requires an APP step (rare)
But if you’re using a modern, purpose-built polish like Picture Perfect Polish, an APP step is simply not necessary.
The Bottom Line
Adding an adhesion promoter polish before ceramic coating used to be a workaround for older polish systems.
Today, with products like Picture Perfect Polish that prime the surface as they polish, there’s no need to add extra time and cost to your process.
Skip the APP — and trust a quality one-step polish to do the job right.
