** I will edit this post later. **
The Stuff! First off, you'll need all the car-washin' stuff to even attempt doing this detail thing. I really recommend higher-quality (read: more expensive) brands like Mother's, Meguiar's, Black Magic, Poor Boy's, stuff like that. The whole point of a detail is to get your car looking as spiffy and as new as possible, and you cannot achieve that end if you cheap out.
Waxes, polishes, etc. Mother's, Meguiar's, Zaino. I use Meguiar's three-step; it's a collection of cleaner wax, polish, and carnauba wax. Although, I skip out on the final wax part of the Three-Step and use their NXT wax, which comes in a bottle or in a paste. Some people prefer the paste. While you're browsing for waxes and stuff, pick up some applicator pads, it will make your job easier and they're washable and reusable.
Assorted waxes and stuff:
Applicators!
Car wash. Now, you could fight wars over this. Use whatever you like the most. Whatever foams up real good and gets most of the crap off your car the first go-round is definitely the best. I don't really like bucket car wash, I prefer the kind you can slap on a sponge and just go with it, but it's getting harder to find around here.
YOU WILL NEED MICROFIBER TOWELS. It is easier to do this with microfiber products, and it will leave a much better finish. Most microfiber on the market is fine; you can get a bundle of towels at places like AutoZone for pretty cheap. I have about ten or more, and I still don't have enough, if that's any indication of how many you will need.
Microfiber:
There are several different types of microfiber, some used for polishing, some for waxing, etc, and they are usually color-coded as such. I find there isn't much difference when you finally get down to it, so you don't have to be too picky or too exact.
CLAYBAR ALSO. You need need NEED claybar; it will remove all the nasty stuff in your paint and clearcoat that washing the car will not. You will be VERY surprised what the claybar will pick up. Your paint is alot nastier than it looks, trust me, especially if you live in or near a bigger city, it will be full of pollutants and airborne chemicals. Claybar is also endlessly useful for getting stubborn bug nastiness off your car. Any claybar brand is fine, I usually recommend Mother's and Meguiar's.
For rims, depending on what your rims are made of, get whatever cleaner matches. Chrome, metal alloy, etc. Do not switch one for the other and assume it will be okay, because you can damage the finish on your rims. Stock rims are made of a metal alloy, so most standard wheel cleaners are fine. Even the hi-pos are metal alloy, they are NOT chrome.
Tire shine is a touchier thing. Some of them have the tendency to fling crud off the tire when you drive the car after detailing it, so I suggect something that is spray-on, wipe-off so you're not greeted by black streaks down the side of your otherwise pristine vehicle. Most tire foam is fine, it doesn't seem to have as much of a tendency to do this, plus it's good for getting the wheel wells back to their clean, not-dusty black color. Also for doing wheel-wells, it's easier to get a stiff brush that you don't mind getting dirty and scrubbing at them. I'm not talking toothbrush.
Interior stuff is all pretty general. I don't recommend Armor-All, they're pretty cheap and they usually leave a nasty greasy film on things. I use Black Magic, it doesn't leave greasy residue behind, and it doesn't leave a cheap-looking shiny-plastic finish. If you have leather seats or any other leather parts in your interior, DO NOT USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN LEATHER CLEANER ON THOSE. You could damage the leather. For these things, Zaino, Meguiars, Mothers and the like. Zaino is pretty expensive stuff, and you'll have to know where to get it as they only sell to select authorized dealers, but it is well worth it. Mother's and Meguiar's are quality stuff also, I'm definitely not downing them.
Glass cleaner. Most people will tell you that Windex and other household glass cleaner is fine for cars. I disagree. They are intended for house interiors, not car exteriors, and most leave a greasy streak pattern behind. Auto glass cleaners are purposefully made to be used for .. well, auto glass. Use them. We're detailing, not cleaning up house for guests to come over. There is a bit of a process you can use regarding cleaning your glass, also, but I'll get to that later.
A buffer or a Mother's PowerBall will make the polishing and waxing steps a lot faster, but you will have to know what you are doing when you go looking for one and using it. You can burn through the paint if you get a buffer you don't know how to handle. For Kai's car, I am doing it all by hand so I can see exactly what I am doing and if there are any scratches in the paint or anything that I need to deal with.
Paint scratches. If you have any hairline scratches or very minor ones, you might be able to repair them with a scratch remover, but don't get your hopes up. Most scratches you will get on a car aren't repairable with that stuff, but you can get after it with some touch up paint and some effort and patience. Your paint code is on the inside of the trunk lid, you can take it to a GM dealer or to AutoZone and they can find you the matching touch-up paint.
So! Summed up, the things you will need are:
* car wash
* paint cleaner/cleaner wax
* polish
* final wax
* claybar
* detailing spray
* a big load of microfiber towels
* wheel cleaner
* tire shine
* some form of interior cleaner
* auto glass cleaner
Now, for the things that are pretty car-specific. These are all if-applicable type things:
* leather cleaner
* chrome/stainless steel polish
* touch-up paint and clear coat
* applicator pads, if you don't want to use a buffer
So yes, if you can spare the money and you are capable of handling it, use a buffer. All buffers are different, so I can't tell you HOW to use one. I can only tell you WHAT to do with it. For all intensive purposes, I am going to be taking things in the context of non-buffer detailing. Besides, if you already know how to use a buffer, chances are you probably already know how to detail and aren't reading this for help. :p
Some product lines I can personally recommend from experience are:
* Mother's
* Meguiar's
* Zaino
* Black Magic
* Eagle One
* Poor Boy's
If anyone else has some they prefer, let me know and I will add them if they really are that good. Remember, it's for detail purposes, so it has to be excellent quality.