The traditional motorcycle helmets come in such dull designs. At first, I was okay with it because I prioritized functionality and the available colorful ones felt a bit too flimsy. Soon enough, I got bored with how my helmet looks, so I decided to paint it.
At that time, my biggest fear wasn’t that I’d mess up the design I chose because I figured if I did, I could always just spray-paint the helmet with one color. I was actually afraid that it might interfere with the function of the helmet.
I did some research and figured out how to paint a motorcycle helmet without weakening its structure. There are two methods of painting your motorcycle helmet, and I’ll walk you through both of them so that you can carry on with the one you find more convenient.
However, you should keep in mind that both require some dedication and a little patience to achieve a satisfying result. That said, let’s get right into it.
Before You Start
First of all, cover the legal safety stamp with masking tape before painting the helmet. After that, remove all the accessories attached to the helmet, as well as the face shield, vents, visors, inner liner, padding, and any stickers on the helmet. Now you’re ready to start painting.
How to Paint a Motorcycle Helmet Using Acrylic Paint
Personally, I find brushes easier to control than spray cans, which is why I recommend this method. Moreover, acrylic paint is readily available in a wide variety of colors, so you can always find some interesting colors to choose from. Spray paints, on the other hand, are less accessible, and the colors are more or less standard.
What You’ll Need:
- A pencil
- A rubber
- A primer
- Markers
- Acrylic paints of the desired colors
- Paintbrushes (a brush for each color)
- Flexible stencil
- An old sheet (or newspapers)
- An old apron/t-shirt
- Gloves
- Clear-coat spray
The Step-by-Step Guide:
- Spread an old sheet or some old newspapers on the surface you’ll be working on, then wear an old t-shirt and gloves to avoid getting paint on your skin or clothes.
- Start by spraying the primer over the helmet then leave it to dry overnight. This will help the paint stay in place longer and prevent fading.
- Using a paintbrush, spread the primary color that you want for your background. Usually, this color is white, grey, or black. If you have a reference to draw from, you’ll know which color to use; if not, then choose whichever you find more suitable.
- Wait for the paint to dry off. This step could take from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the paint brand. Although acrylic paint dries off fast, it’s better not to rush things, so you won’t have to retouch the paint. If possible, you can use an electric fan or a dryer to speed up the process.
- Once the first layer dries, use a pencil to draw on the helmet. You can turn to a reference or use a stencil at this point, but the way I see it, it’s an excellent chance to get creative and use your artistic instincts.
- Feel free to use the rubber whenever needed, but avoid peeling off the paint by using strong strokes. If the base is dark in color, you can use a marker to outline your drawings.
- You can start painting straight away, but you should leave the paint to dry after each layer. Keep layering until you’re satisfied with your design. Usually, you won’t need more than three layers for your drawing to pop.
- Your helmet is now ready for polishing, which will be covered later on.
How to Paint a Motorcycle Helmet Using Spray Paint
Using spray paint is a bit more complicated than using acrylics, so there are some extra steps that you’ll need to go through.
What You’ll Need:
- A pencil
- A rubber
- Markers
- A masking tape
- 400 or 600 grits of sandpaper
- Spray paints of the desired colors
- Flexible stencils
- An old sheet (or newspapers)
- An old apron/t-shirt
- Gloves
- Clear-coat spray
The Step-by-Step Guide:
- Just like the first method, you’ll need to spread a sheet on your working surface and wear an old t-shirt and an apron.
- Use the sandpaper to wet sand the helmet so as to avoid color changes and fading. Avoid over-sanding your helmet as it’ll weaken the shell and leave unnecessary marks.
- Start drawing on the helmet using a reference or the flexible stencils.
- Choose a color to start with, then, using the masking tape, cover the parts that you don’t want to paint using that color.
- Apply the first layer over the uncovered part, then wait for a couple of minutes and coat with two more layers.
- Wait for the paint to completely dry, then choose another color to apply.
- Now cover the area that you already sprayed as well as other areas that you don’t want to color at this point.
- Repeat the previous method of applying the paint until you get to three coats.
- Once you’re done, leave the helmet to dry, and get ready to polish it.
How to Polish Your Helmet
After the paint dries, it’s essential to use a clear-coat spray to ensure that everything stays in place and give your drawing more depth. One of the reasons I wanted to talk about this separately is to stress that you should use a propitiatory respirator while using this spray as it contains urethane, which is very irritant to the lungs.
As you apply more coats, your design will pop up more; however, four coats are more than enough to get a satisfying result. Typically, the clear coat takes 12 to 24 hours to dry, after which you can wet sand the surface of the helmet to remove any imperfection. This time, it’s better to use 1500 or 2000 grit sandpaper.
Lastly, use a polishing compound to buff the areas that have been sanded and then reassemble your helmet.
Important Tips
- It’s better to wear a mask when you’re using spray paint as it might accidentally get into your airways.
- If you have a specific design in mind, and you haven’t bought a helmet yet, choose a white or a black one as they’re easier to paint on.
- If you can only find a colored helmet, make sure to get a plain color as it’s less expensive, and you’ll draw on it anyway.
- Sanding is an aggressive process, so while you’re going through it, make sure to be as delicate as possible to avoid weakening your headwear.
- You can use a stable stand to fix the helmet in place while you’re spraying it.
- Not all acrylic paints are water-based, so make sure to double-check that before buying the paints. Water-based acrylic is safer, and it dries fast.
- Avoid touching the paint to check whether it has dried or not, as this might ruin your design. Instead, check if there are any paint stains, which indicate wet spots.
- Don’t leave your paint to dry for too long as it might lead to some cracking. It’s better to start applying the polishing spray as soon as the paint dries for that matter.
- There are two types of clear coats, one that leaves you with a matte finish, and another that leaves you with a shiny one, so you can pick whichever you prefer.
Final Verdict
These are the two methods to paint your motorcycle helmet. As I was initially saying, both processes require some patience, especially that you’ll need to wait for the paint to dry, then repeat the steps a couple of times.
It’s essential not to put yourself at any risk while painting the helmet, so make sure to wear a pair of gloves, a mask, and an apron. I also recommend working in an open place like the yard of your house or a well-ventilated room.
If you follow the step-by-step guide mentioned above, you won’t have any technical issues applying the paint. Also, it would help if you got all the necessary equipment before you start painting the helmet.
With all that being said, you should enjoy the process as this is an amazing opportunity to get creative and customize your helmet to end up with a unique, authentic design.