Pink and purple fashionable helmets have entered the motorcycling scene - women's motorcycle helmets. The color and design of these helmets stand far apart from men's helmets, and they are far more fashion oriented than the masculine helmets.

There is a possible hazard with women's motorcycle helmets because safety, not fashion, should be the prime concern for buyers of motorcycle helmets. While manufacturers often rely on sex appeal for their designs, that should be a minor detail on the consumer's side when purchasing a helmet.

Manufacturers of women's motorcycle helmets have made it simple to know the distinction between women's and men's helmets. Not only are the colors and styles suited to each gender, but the sizing of a man's and woman's helmet is different. A woman's motorcycle helmet is sized smaller that a man's although the helmets may fall in the same general size classification.

The number of women riders has greatly risen over the last 30 years, which means the women's helmets are available in a large number of styles. Any woman shopping for a helmet has no worry about sacrificing style or safety for a helmet - today's helmets have both. For example, Icon Racing carries a helmet called "Hooligan Gloss Helmet" which is both safe and has a slick style. Although the name does not hint to its femininity, this women's motorcycle helmet has a shape that is distinctly female and is available in a pink-purple color, which is unmistakably feminine. It is also equipped with a fully supply of safety features, meeting standards of both Department of Transportation (D.O.T) and Snell. It is composed of a fiberglass shell with dual-density styrene for a liner, which is known to minimize the risk of trauma in head injuries. This helmet is both beautiful and function and an excellent example of a women's motorcycle helmet.

Because riding motorcycles is still perceived to be primarily a man's activity, men tend to be more experienced and knowledgeable than women in purchasing helmets. Before shopping for women's motorcycle helmets, a first-time buyer should learn about the wide variety of women's helmets that are in the market. She should get a basic knowledge of DOT and Snell safety standards for helmets. She should understand the importance of proper fit as a factor in determining the level of protection a helmet can provide. She should also be knowledgeable about the trade-offs in a woman's motorcycle helmet - those pertaining to safety, comfort, heat-flow, ventilation and other factors in rider's comfort. Since the female face is generally more delicate than a man's, women tend to buy helmets that maximize facial protection.

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