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DIY Guide · Vapour headlight restorer

Restore Your
Headlights
Yourself

A step-by-step guide for anyone who wants a professional result without paying for a restoration service. Choose your headlight issue, follow the exact sanding process, then finish with Vapour headlight restorer.

Any car, as long as it has plastic headlights. Works on any car with polycarbonate (plastic) headlights and any external headlight issue. It does not work on glass headlights.
Start the Guide
All
Developed for All External Headlight Issues
48h
Cure Time Before Applying Long-Lasting Protection
1yr+
Lasts 1 Year on Its Own, Much Longer With Protection

Lasts about 1 year on its own. Add any protection after the 48-hour cure and it lasts much longer: ceramic coating around 3 years, PPF film up to 10 years.

In this guide
Read first · About this guide

Professional results,
in your own driveway

This guide is for anyone who would like to restore their headlights professionally themselves, rather than paying a headlamp restoration service to do it.

It is based on many years of restoring headlights across London (UK) and Auckland and Nelson (New Zealand). We have restored over 100 cars and helped hundreds of owners restore their own headlights, and we update this guide whenever we find an easier way for beginners and non-technical people to get a great result. You'll find up-to-date advice on how to maintain your headlights, what to do and what to avoid, so they stay looking like new for as long as possible.

Vapour headlight restorer was developed to help anyone with polycarbonate (plastic) headlights — which covers most cars built since the mid-1980s. This technique does not work on glass headlights.

Last updated: November 2026

Read first · What to expect

Works on almost
any headlight

Here is what Vapour headlight restorer can and can't do, and how long you can expect the result to last.

Any car with plastic headlights

It works on any make and model, as long as the headlights are polycarbonate (plastic) rather than glass. That covers most cars built since the mid-1980s.

Any external headlight issue

It restores damage on the outside of the lens:

  • Yellowing
  • Oxidation
  • Haze / fogging
  • Crazing
  • Micro-cracking
  • Light scratches

An honest note

It can't repair moisture inside the headlight or a cracked lens. And in very rare cases a lens simply won't respond: we have had one car where deep sanding and the chemical made no visible difference, and we couldn't find out why. Every other car we have restored has come out successfully.

How long will it last?

Vapour headlight restorer is a restoration product. On its own, the result typically lasts around 1 year. Adding protection afterwards, any protection you like, makes it last much longer.

  • Vapour headlight restorer alone About 1 year A clear, like-new restoration with no protection added.
  • + Ceramic coating About 3 years Applied 48 hours after restoring, and easy to do yourself.
  • + PPF film Up to 10 years A clear film over the lens, best fitted by a professional.

Car wax, reapplied regularly, is a simple budget option that also helps extend the result. See the protection options. Real-world lifespan depends on where the car is stored, how often and how far it is driven, and other conditions.

Prefer to watch?

Video tutorial

Prefer watching to reading? Follow along with the video. Everything in it is also written below, so you can use either, or both.

Video tutorial coming soon In the meantime, the full written guide below covers every step.
Step 1 · What you'll need

Your complete
shopping checklist

Gather everything below before you begin, so you can work through each stage without stopping.

Sanding & preparation

3 items
  • Protection tape Electrical tape or headlight-restoration tape. Avoid masking tape: it can leave a sticky residue.
  • Bottle of water A garden spray bottle works well.
  • Wet & dry sandpaper The grits depend on your headlight issue. See the table below.

3 microfibre towels

3 towels
  • Towel 1: spot uneven sanding Use it to dry the lens between sanding stages.
  • Towel 2: final clean Wipe the lens with it just before applying the chemical.
  • Towel 3: clean the car Use it after the restoration so no stains are left behind.

Safety gear

3 items
  • Gloves
  • Respirator mask
  • Goggles

Protects you from chemical exposure. Put it all on before handling the chemical.

Chemical application

3 items
  • Vapour headlight restorer By Headlights Forever.
  • Atomising cup
  • Atomising cup cover

Power for the cup

Pick one
  • Battery at the front Battery clips.
  • Battery at the back Cigarette lighter power cable, or a mains supply to your cup.
  • Can't find the battery? Run power from your house with a mains-to-12V adaptor cable.

Optional extras

Nice to have
  • Sanding block Makes the grip more comfortable.
  • Electric polisher + sanding pads Makes sanding faster and much less effort.
  • Electric blower Dries the lens quickly so you can check your work.

Which sandpaper grits do I need?

Choose one set, depending on the issue your headlights have. You'll pick your issue in the sanding step below.

Headlight issue Wet and dry grits needed
Crazing / micro-cracking / light scratches on a newer headlight 180, 240, 400, 800, 1200 / 1500 / 1600
Yellow on the top only / signs of yellowing / oxidised 240, 400, 800, 1200 / 1500 / 1600
Evenly yellow or foggy all over 400, 800, 1200 / 1500 / 1600
Step 2 · Before you start

Pick the right day
and the right spot

When can I start?

Check the weather forecast and make sure it will not rain for at least 4 hours after you apply the chemical. This does not apply if you have a garage or another covered space where the headlights will stay dry for the first 4 hours.

Where to park (and where not to)

✓ Do

  • Garage: ideally one big enough to walk comfortably around the headlights while you work.
  • Driveway: a good second choice, as long as you can protect the car from rain afterwards.

✕ Don't

  • Under a tree: once the chemical is applied the plastic is soft, so you don't want anything falling onto the headlights.
  • On a busy street: for your own safety. Minimise the risk of being hit while you work.

Protect your paintwork from sanding

Raise the bonnet and tape off the area around each headlight so you don't scratch the paint while sanding. Use electrical tape, or tape made specifically for headlight restoration. Masking tape is not recommended because it can leave a sticky residue.

Some cars need no masking. On certain models, such as the Porsche Macan and Mini Cooper, lifting the bonnet raises the surrounding panel with it, so there is no paintwork next to the headlights to damage.

Step 3 · Sanding process

Choose your issue,
get your exact steps

Select the option that best matches your headlights. We'll show only the sanding process for that issue.

👆 Tap a headlight photo or title above to see your step-by-step sanding process.

Step 4 · Applying the chemical

Time for
the magic

Once the lens is evenly sanded and completely dry, you're ready for Vapour headlight restorer.

1. Put on your protective equipment

Before handling the chemical, put on your respirator mask, protective goggles and gloves. Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated space. Read the safety label on your bottle and follow its instructions.

2. Heat up the chemical

  1. Fill the atomising cup Open the bottle of Vapour headlight restorer by Headlights Forever, pour the contents into the atomising cup and close it with the atomising cup cover.
  2. Connect the power Plug the atomising cup into your power source (see the power options in the checklist above).
  3. Wait for vapour The chemical will start to heat up. Depending on the outside temperature, it usually begins vaporising after 3–5 minutes. Watch for vapour coming from the top of the atomising cup cover. When it starts, the chemical is ready to use.

Important notes before applying

Keep the cup upright

Hold the atomising cup straight so liquid never runs onto the headlight. Some headlights are flat on top, and reaching the very top may tempt you to tilt the cup, so take care. Spilled liquid can leave a dip or mark in the softened plastic, and you would need to sand and restore that area again.

Never touch the lens

The plastic becomes soft while the vapour is applied, so touching it, even with the edge of the cup, will leave marks. This is most likely on windy days, when you are tempted to hold the cup closer. If you leave a mark, you will need to sand it out and repeat the treatment.

3. Apply the vapour

Hold the vaporising cup straight and point the vapour outlet at the headlight from about 2 cm away. Vaporise both headlights, and that's it. If you've done everything right, they should come out looking brand new.

Fixing common imperfections

Visible scratches from sanding

Wait at least 3 minutes, then sand the lens again with 800 grit, followed by 1200 / 1500 / 1600 grit, and re-apply the chemical.

The headlight looks foggy, not crystal clear

Wait at least 3 minutes, then quickly sand again with 800 grit, followed by 1200 / 1500 / 1600 grit, and re-apply the chemical.

How to tell the restoration was successful

Look at each headlight from the side to spot any cloudy areas you may have missed. If you find any, vaporise those areas as well.

Step 5 · Aftercare & protection

Keep them looking
like new

Immediately after restoration

  • Don't touch the headlights and keep them away from water: at least 1 hour, ideally 4.
  • Avoid driving for the first hour.
  • Don't wash them or apply any product for 48 hours. Some car-care products can react with the treated surface.

Protect your headlights after 48 hours

Vapour headlight restorer restores your headlights, and on its own the result lasts about 1 year. Protection is optional, but it is what makes the result last much longer, and you can use any protection you like. Wait 48 hours before applying it: the restored surface needs oxygen to cure properly. These are the options we suggest.

Ceramic coating

DIY-friendly protection

  • Gyeon Q² Trim EVO: about 3 years of protection and easy to apply.
  • CarPro DLUX: about 3 years of protection. You need to wait 1 hour between layers.
PPF (paint protection film)

Best done by a professional

A professional installer also gives you a warranty if the film ever starts to lift.

  • XPEL: 10-year manufacturer warranty, the most expensive, with plenty of UK-certified workshops.
  • SunTek: 10-year manufacturer warranty, but can be hard to find in the UK.
  • STEK: 10-year manufacturer warranty, the most affordable.
FAQ

Troubleshooting

Yes, on any car with polycarbonate (plastic) headlights, which includes most cars built since the mid-1980s. It does not work on glass headlights.
Almost always. Yellowing, oxidation, haze, crazing, micro-cracking and light scratches on the outside of the lens can all be restored. In very rare cases a lens does not respond: we have had one car where deep sanding and the chemical made no visible difference, and we could not find out why. If your headlight does not improve after careful sanding, get in touch with a photo and we will try to help. The method cannot repair moisture inside the headlight or a cracked lens.
In almost every case, that area hasn't been sanded properly. The chemical cannot react with the manufacturer's hard coat, so it has to be removed completely. Take your time, and always dry the lens and check it carefully for glossy patches. German brands such as BMW and Porsche use a particularly tough factory hard coat that must be sanded off before the chemical will work. It's also worth checking whether your headlights have a PPF, tint or protective film on top. That must be removed and the lens sanded.
We recommend not going below 180 grit. Only use a coarser grit if you cannot remove the manufacturer's hard coat otherwise. Remember, the coarser the grit, the more plastic you remove, and the more prone the lens becomes to yellowing again if it isn't well protected.
Wait at least 3 minutes.
If the other headlight still looks like new, restore only the damaged one, then apply protection to both so they age evenly.
Around 1 year with Vapour headlight restorer on its own, depending on where you store the car, how often and how far you drive it, and other conditions. Adding protection makes it last much longer: car wax (reapplied regularly) helps extend it, a ceramic coating can give around 3 years, and PPF film up to 10 years.
No. Vapour headlight restorer is a restoration product, and on its own the result typically lasts around 1 year. Protection is recommended: you can apply any protection you prefer, such as car wax, a ceramic coating or PPF film, 48 hours after the restoration to make the result last much longer.
Wait 48 hours. The restored surface needs oxygen to cure properly.
For the best results, don't touch the lenses and keep them away from water, ideally for the first 4 hours and at least for the first hour. Avoid driving for the first hour, and don't wash the headlights or apply any products for 48 hours, as some car-care products can react with the treated surface.
Yes, but only the preparation. Sand the headlights ready for the final step, then wait for calmer conditions before applying the vapour. Wind blows the vapour away and tempts you to hold the cup closer than you should.
Wait 3–5 minutes, sand the affected area again with the last grit you used before vaporising, then reapply the chemical.
Use just enough pressure to remove the manufacturer's hard coat. The lens is only plastic, so there's no need to press hard. Let the sandpaper do the work.
Prefer a professional?

Or let us do it for you.

Based in London? We offer mobile headlight restoration across South & Central London — we come to you, from £70.

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