Helmet hair I can deal with, but I'm tired of helmet forehead.

July 19, 2010 8:23 AM

My bike helmet leaves deep indentations on my forehead. The marks are really bad right when I get to work, and linger for most of the day. What can I do to get them to go away faster? How can I prevent them? I still get them when I use a head wrap in the winter, so a cap or a bandanna underneath probably won't help. My helmet fits comfortably and I'm usually well hydrated.

I'm due for a new helmet soon, so if you've solved this problem with an upgrade I'd like to hear about it.

No doubt I'm losing skin elasticity as I'm getting older. Am I permanently damaging my skin?

posted by hydrophonic to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

I vote for upgrade. If your helmet came with some interior padding -- did it always leave indentations or did the padding become compressed over time? With some helmets I think you can order new replacement padding. If you go in for a new helmet, get help from a store clerk. Tell them that you get these annoying indentations and maybe they can direct you to some specific models. Other than that, drink a lot of water. Maybe vigorously rub the indentations when you get in -- maybe even do a few jumping jacks to get your blood flowing. But, I think deep indentations really go to fit.
posted by amanda at 8:52 AM on July 19, 2010

I use a bike helmet that doesn't have this sort of problem. I bought this helmet after trying a bunch of ridiculous alien-looking helmets that didn't fit well or look good. Honestly, it sounds like you just have an ill-fitting helmet, and you should look into one that better conforms to your noggin.
posted by fake at 8:57 AM on July 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

I had to shave slivers of foam off of two points high on the forehead of my Bell helmet. Bell would not approve, of course, but the amount of material I removed was infinitesimal and the difference in comfort was dramatic.
posted by jon1270 at 8:58 AM on July 19, 2010

I'm guessing that you have a helmet with a bunch of little foam bits stuck to the inside and the ones in the front of the helmet are pushing too hard on your forehead. You could find some thinner foam pads, but if I were you I would just upgrade to a model with an adjustable inner band. I recently did and my new helmet is much more comfortable (the adjustable band inside the helmet provides even pressure all the way around the head) and much more secure (once you tighten the band, your helmet does not move at all). I feel safer in my new helmet too, because it is less likely to be knocked askew in a crash.

I also strongly recommend buying a white or light-coloured helmet. It keeps your head so much cooler than a dark coloured one.
posted by ssg at 9:47 AM on July 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

My dad used to wear a bowler hat, and also had a top hat (yes, long time ago,) both of which are hard-shell hats. My head measures almost exactly the same as his did, but there's no way I could wear his hats because his head and my head were different shapes; I could not even get his hat on my head, it bit into my forehead so. Which is just a long way of saying, get yourself a new helmet because it sounds like your head is a more extended oval than your current helmet.
posted by anadem at 11:04 AM on July 19, 2010

Don't just run out and buy a helmet off a shelf somewhere. Go to a decent bike shop and talk to the staff. They'll be able to help make sure the helmet fits your head and your needs.

Note also that fake links to a snowboarding helmet. I'd be wary of using something that wasn't specifically designed for use on a bike, in the same way that I wouldn't trust a football helmet for protection while riding a motorcycle (Easy Rider be damned). Bike helmets similar in style to that snowboard helmet do exist, but I wouldn't buy that specific helmet.
posted by caution live frogs at 11:25 AM on July 19, 2010

I can't disagree with you, but FWIW, I've been hit by a car wearing my previous copy of this helmet, and my head hit the ground hard, and all was well with my head. Elbow, however, not so good.

Personally, having been in some accidents and having worn some helmets, I feel it's more a helmet/no helmet thing, rather than a "designed for biking" thing in a general sense, although there are most certainly bike-specific design issues. Again, I agree, for max safety and paranoia, I'm sure one designed for bikes, whatever that means, would be best.
posted by fake at 11:16 PM on July 19, 2010