This post is not to discredit companies such as 3M or Meguiar's who have sold thousands of these kits worldwide, but more so to help consumers understand the primary differences between a store-bought headlight restoration kit versus a permanent service - CT Headlight Restoration.
The biggest dilemma with even the most expensive headlight restoration kit on the market is although you may be able to improve clarity, this is only temporary. This is done by hand-sanding away the vehicles failed factory top coat. Once all the coating is removed, the headlight then needs to be heavily polished to remove the scratch marks just caused from sanding. The results from this process fades away within weeks due to the inferior final coating in these headlight restoration kits. This common fading result is the main reason more and more car-owners are choosing the hire a professional rather than going the DIY route.
With all of the benefits of hiring a professional to restore your headlights, it is still important to be informed on the process of which the company you hire uses. Proper professional headlight restoration technique involves a meticulous amount of prep work. And since all cars are made differently, experience is needed to know how to approach each headlight restoration. This differentiates headlight restoration companies that offer a complete refinish of the outer lens, compared to the quick wipe-on fix that might be offered at your nearest carwash or detail shop. Finally, be mindful of the companies that promise to restore your headlights in an unusual amount of time. The average headlight restoration service takes about 1 to 2 hours and should be a multi-step process.