While the market for car waxes is constantly evolving and endlessly fascinating, some things never change, and one of them is that sooner or later most manufacturers try their hand at producing waxes for specific colours and/or paint types. This holds true across the full spectrum of production, from cottage industries to luxury brands, and in many cases their success (or otherwise) is determined mainly by the quality of their marketing effort, as opposed to the performance of their product(s). Why is this so? Mainly because of the difficulties involved. To tweak a wax formula in an objective way towards a specific visual goal or optimal compatibility with a specific paint type requires (expensive) research and development, and even then is limited in scope; there is only so much you can do from a chemical standpoint (the visual difference between different wax finishes is always going to be subtle, as the vast majority of their ingredients are always very similar). Furthermore, in the case of paint types, wax manufacturers are aiming at a moving target that is outside of their control; car manufacturers routinely update the type of paints they use in response to technological advances, evolving performance requirements and legislative pressures.
Given the above, it should come as no surprise that we are often sceptical of waxes developed for specific colours, and even more so of those formulated for specific paint types. However, we always test them in the usual way, just in case any of them turn out to be good and break new ground. In this respect, BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax has pleasantly surprised us. We tested it for longer than normal as we wanted to be certain, but it really does do what BLACKFIRE claim, which is to make black and other dark-coloured paints look amazing. By employing a unique wax blend with strong jetting properties, it delivers a mind blowing finish characterised by a level of depth and gloss that is bordering on the ridiculous; in strong, direct sunlight a degree of shimmer is actually noticeable on dark-coloured paints. Furthermore, it is incredibly easy to apply and buff off (which makes it a great choice for use on soft paint types), does not mute or otherwise degrade metallic or pearlescent paint effects (thanks to the inclusion of super-polymers) and typically gives upwards of three months of protection on a daily driver following a single application. In short, it raises the bar for colour-charged waxes, and really delivers on dark-coloured paints.
