Waxing a vehicle provides a sacrificial layer of protection onto the paintwork by filling in the pores of the paint and creating a uniform “barrier” against the elements. This helps keep your paintwork in optimal condition and typically adds some gloss and shine due to the filling capabilities. It also provides a hydrophobic surface, meaning that water will repel very easily from the paint, making the drying process much easier after washing.
This “barrier”, or sacrificial layer, also protects contaminants from coming directly in contact with the paint. Bird droppings, dirt, and dust will all be blocked by the wax allowing you time to remove them before the paint is compromised. That amount of time will depend upon the type of the wax.
The definition of a wax is simply a product that when applied can fill, protect, and add gloss and shine to the paint. This means that carnauba waxes, sealants, and coatings can all technically be addressed by the general term “wax”. While theses options for protection are different in many ways, any choice will be better than no protection.
Some forms of wax are more focused on durability while others are more focused on gloss and shine. Typically, carnauba waxes will have less durability and need to be applied more often during the year than synthetic forms of protection such as sealants and coatings. True gloss and shine comes from defect free paintwork, but waxes can help fill some minor scratches and provide shine.