Painting a motorcycle helmet is just one of the many things you can do to customize your appearance while riding a motorcycle, you will find some great tips on how to paint a motorcycle helmet. But, It’s a lot harder than it looks. Picking the right design and color scheme can be difficult. With this in mind, we want to offer you a few options to help you choose the best design for your unique style.

Painting a motorcycle helmet is an art as well as a skill. To do it perfectly, you need to have the right tools, equipment, and most importantly, you need to know the right way to paint a helmet. In this article, we will discuss how to paint a motorcycle helmet by following the 10 step by step guide.

Best Spray Paint for Motorcycle Helmet

Perfect Match Spray: Dupli-Color EBUN01007 Gloss Automotive Paint

Best Color Shift Spray Paint: Rust-Oleum 254860 Specialty Spray

Best Wax Spray: Motul 103258 Wash and Wax Spray

Here are the materials you’ll need to get started painting

• YATTICH Paint Sprayer or Airbrush Kit with Compressor
• Reference picture of the design you like
• Matte Spray Paint
• Dura-Gold Premium 400 Grit Sandpaper
• Scotch Tan Home and Office Masking Tape
• Clear Coatings Aerosol
• Scotch Brite abrasive pad
• Medpride Medical Vinyl Examination Gloves (Latex Free Rubber)
• Knife
• Rust-Oleum 249127 Painter’s Touch

Caution ‘Safety tips to protect yourself‘

When you’re looking for the perfect paint colors for your helmet, remember that it’s important to choose brands that don’t carry harmful chemicals. And always remember to go to a well-known store — not just any old place will do! The staff can help with your color choices and often let you know of related ideas!

Keep in mind that no matter where you paint, there are always risks of color getting on surfaces you didn’t intend. That can be a hassle, especially if you want to cover up the paint while it dries.

Preparation

To start, select the appropriate preparation by arranging the tools you need to paint the helmet in a place with plenty of room. A dry, clean environment is also recommended, though not necessary. 

Choosing design

You have lots of choices when it comes to helmet design. You can choose a simple color scheme, a more intricate pattern, or even airbrushed artwork. These choices are important because they allow you to express your style while meeting safety standards in all 50 states.

Disassemble removable parts

If you’re painting a full-face helmet, you must remove the visors first, along with all the removable plastic parts. You’ll then need to carefully remove all of the interlining, keeping it in a safe place so you can replace it once the helmet is fully dry. If any parts are impossible to remove, be sure to mask them off not to get painted!

Cleaning helmet’s surface

Now, you need to clean the surface of the helmet using detergent. Your hands will be covered with latex gloves to avoid getting handprints on the surface of the helmet.

Removing stickers and old paint

There is no need to remove stickers on your helmet (this task can be a little complicated). If you paint in a new way over the old paint, it will look not very pleasant. So use 400 grit sandpapers to remove old paint. Use Scotch Bright Abrasive Pad to remove the shiny surface of old paint.

Painting Techniques ‘Best Ways to Paint Your Helmet‘

Painting your helmet is both easy and fun. You don’t need to be an artist to create a great looking customized helmet. Even the most amateur painters can do amazing things when given the right tools and a little bit of guidance. But before you get started, there are some steps you should follow to create a quality paint job.

Masking out the helmet

If you’re painting your helmet, you surely don’t want to paint in all the places you can’t reach. Well, you can use masking tape in these places. For the parts of the helmet where you want to paint, you can mask the areas according to your desired design.

Adding Primer Undercoat

Now it’s time to start. Start by applying a primer undercoat first — two or three layers will do the trick. After letting it dry, spray several light coats of paint on top. After the paint has dried, you’re ready to remove your masking tape — although, depending on the finish you choose, you may need to let it dry for 24 hours before removing the masking tape.

Adding Coat

Once the primer is dry, you can paint the helmet black. Let that dry. Soak some sandpaper in warm and soapy water and smooth the helmet’s surface using a block. If you notice any places where the guide coat remains, don’t panic — that means those spots aren’t perfectly smooth.

Painting Process

It’s time to decorate your helmet! You could paint with either a spray gun or a spray can. A spray gun makes for a more permanent paint job, but it also means you’ll have to spend a bit of time sanding it down afterwards. A spray can is great if you don’t want the hassle of sanding, but you may need to re-paint your helmet every few years as the color wears off eventually.

Now you can spray a whole area without running over the middle. Avoid stopping in the middle of the spray to get runs. Stop spraying as soon as your spray runs off the area. Repeat this a few time from side to side and up and down.

Applying Different Colors

You can apply multiple colors to your helmet with the right technique! It’ll be a much easier process.

Firstly, place a picture of your desired design onto the helmet, and position it so you can see it while painting. 

Secondly, you’ll need to use masking tape on the helmet’s surface that you don’t want to paint. Remember to cover all the areas that you want to paint!

Thirdly, follow the same spraying technique we have shown above. 

Fourthly, please wait until it dries completely. Then paint the rest of the helmet with a different color.

Clear-coat/Finishing coat

A clear coat gives your sculpture a polished look and protects the paint. It also enhances the depth. After spraying up to four layers of coat to enhance the depth of the paintings, you need to let it dry for one day. Finally, use 1500 grit sandpaper or steel wool to make the surface smooth.

Unmasking

When you’re done painting, don’t forget to take off your helmet! If you’re using acrylic paint, it’s good to wipe the top surface with a dry cloth to keep your artwork from getting damaged.

Reassembly

After the painting is completely dry, you can put the parts back together. If you’re having trouble with this step, don’t make a scene! The user manual has excellent instructions on putting new helmets back together after they’ve been painted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of paint is best for a motorcycle helmet?

Acrylic paints are the best option if you’re looking to paint your helmet. Use water-based paints to paint your design. Let each layer dry before applying the next one for a professional finish. That will help keep the paint from peeling off.

Can you spray paint the football helmet?

Painting a football helmet is a hard task that calls for a steady hand and artistic skills. If you want to avoid annoying drips or spills, it’s essential to make sure the paint is applied fast and in short flows. If the paint is allowed to dry too much, it can become hard and crack.

Can you wrap a motorbike helmet?

Helmets can be customized to your liking. All you need are some basic tools, a soldering iron, and a bit of patience. You can be the artist you’ve always wanted to be! Your artistic skills can turn simple helmets into works of art.

Final Words 

There are plenty of things to consider when painting a motorcycle helmet. For starters, you need to cover the inside of the helmet with some protective material. If your helmet is brand new, this may not be necessary. However, if it is a used helmet, you will want to cover the inside to protect it. Further, you will also want to make sure that any vents on the helmet are cleaned out as best as possible.

In this step by step painting guide, you learn how to paint a motorcycle helmet. Please follow the guide’s basic structure closely, but feel free to add your inspiration to the combination. I hope you liked this article. If you like this post, feel free to share it with your friends and family.

Have a nice day!