This boujee car trend is the designer update you need

Most people would prefer using something shiny, sparkly, and bright if they want to grab attention—maybe wear a highly reflective sequin dress, dye their hair a color that puts every traffic light to shame, or put on some really bold makeup. And these hacks work most of the time, unless you’re trying to stand out on the road.

In the world of automobiles, a regular, glossy car just won’t cut it. If you really want your baby (a.k.a your car) to stick out like a sore thumb (in a good way), then go for a matte paint. Because when you’re on the road, the more flat-looking your car is, the more eye-catching it is. Just like at Prada and Raf Simons, matte accessories from the early ’00s have made its cyclical return in the trend cycle.

BMW, Hyundai, and Dodge Viper are just some of the very few car companies that sell matte-finish cars. And I know what you’re thinking: they’re too expensive for your own good. So just go with the next best thing—paint it yourself or hire a professional. But before you do, here are the Qs you need to ask yourself first about matte-finish cars because sis, trust me, they can sometimes be a pain in the butt, especially in the long run.

“Am I willing to take care of it?”

Let’s put it this way: A matte-finish car is like a high-maintenance lover who needs TLC all the damn time. Automotive painters use a specialized clear coat that dries to a rough texture instead of the usual gloss, which eventually forms the dull and flat look of the car. And I’m telling you, it’s very sensitive. So owning a matte-finish car is a really huge commitment. You fail to take care of it for a day and you’re done for.

You have to immediately clean every stain (bird poop, insect traces, water spots, etc.) on your car if you don’t want it to become permanent. And it’s best to wash it yourself instead of going to an automatic car wash. “Automatic car washes can cause uneven shiny spots on matte paint, which will not go away quickly. Many automakers that have offered matte paint on recent model year vehicles have asked their owners to hand wash their cars every single time,” said an automotive enthusiast.

“Do I have the patience to look for car care products?”

I get it, the secret to making a car look new is wax—but that isn’t the case with matte-finish cars. Wax usually intensifies the car’s shine. If you use it on a car that’s meant to look flat, how would you think it will work? Yeah, it won’t end up pretty. So just ditch the wax and go with foam wash and sponge.

Contrary to what some sites say, you don’t need to make your own car foam wash for your matte-finish car. You just really have to look for products that are matte-safe. (Note: Do not use dishwashing liquid if you love your car, please.)

Since matte-finish cars are prone to scratches, staining, and fading, you may also want to invest in a paint protectant for preventive measures. It will protect the clearcoat from damage. To put things in perspective, it’s like placing tempered glass on your phone screen—except paint protectant is for cars. Important reminder though: Wear proper protective gear (coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, face shield and dust mask) when applying the protective coating as it contains chemicals that may negatively impact your health if inhaled.

“Am I a good driver?”

As mentioned above, matte-finish cars are (very) prone to scratches. So it’s probably best to stick to a regular car, especially if you’re not a careful driver. Now if you swear to God you’re a good driver but it just so happened that you drove your matte-finish car on a bad day and managed to scratch it somewhere, sorry to tell you that there’s no other way to deal with it but to repaint the entire panel. In other words, say bye to your annual bonus.

Originally published in Shopmag Online

Header photo courtesy of Max Simonov on Unsplash