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112 ja n ua r y/ f e b r ua r y 2 015 U n tac k e d do it YoursELf STEP 1: Sand It All you need is a super light once-over with a fine sandpaper or sanding block. Your goal is simply to smooth out any scratches, break up any caked on gunk, and improve overall adhesion for the glo- rious paint you've painstakingly chosen. STEP 2: Clean The Thing Wipe it down well with a manufacturer- approved cleaner. I used a little diluted Fantastik on a cloth, because that's what I've always used for my annual helmet cleanings. But OK, I admit I have not done the research on whether or not Fantastik is an approved cleaner, etc., etc. My wonderfully conscientious readers (and more than a few helmet manufacturers) will set me straight, no doubt. nOTE: If you or anyone you know is a personal injury attorney, stop read- ing this tutorial now, sell your horse and secure yourself safely on the couch with your organic, vegan, gluten-free cup- cakes. I took out the removable portions of the interior padding and the chin pad, placed them in a mesh lingerie bag and tossed them into the wash along with a bunch of saddle pads. I wiped down the inside of the helmet as best I could, then sprayed a few shots of Charles Owen Helmet Deodorizer, because, well, why not? STEP 3: Allow To Dry Really well—like overnight. Make the most of this roughly 12-hour "cooling-off period" by changing your mind on the color... at least twice. STEP 4: Prepare The Workspace Overachievers, get your drop cloths. Everyone else can just set the helmet on a fence post in a discreet location. STEP 5: Tape Tape off any areas you want to paint a contrasting color or avoid painting at all. I used FrogTape. It resisted sticking to the outside of my helmet at first, but with a little coaxing I was able to make it work. I tucked my cleaning rag inside the helmet to avoid errant paint. STEP 6: Paint The Harness I originally planned to leave the harness on my helmet its original black color, but after finding out that the amazing Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint works on almost any surface, including plastic and vinyl, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. First, I did a quick test spray on a piece of newspaper to get a feel for the nozzle and the volume of paint it pro- duced. Once confident, I lightly sprayed the harness using Rust-Oleum Univer- sal's Chestnut color, moving from left to right about 8-12 inches from the helmet. The paint pretty well dissipated into the nylon portion of the harness strap, but who cares? Most of that is going to be covered with the chin pad anyway, and I got really nice, uniform coverage on the vinyl portion of the harness. nOTE: If I had it to do over again, I'd choose a non-metallic spray paint for STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 5 STEP 6

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