Skunkhelm! Skunk Striped Motorcycle Helmet

Do you want your head to stand out in a crowd?
Enjoy making people go "What was that?"
Smell bad?
This one is for you!
I have seen motorcyclists with a "mohawk" stripe on their helmets, but I wanted a different one. My helmet is plain black, so what else to do but put a Skunk stripe on it!

Step 1: Materials Needed

Black and White acrylic "fun" fur
Heavy Duty Velcro, adhesive backed
Hot glue gun
Utility knife
Helmet. Preferably not an expensive new one, the Velcro glue may not come off. This is my backup, and is due for retirement at the end of the summer. I replace my helmet about every 4 years, or when they start to feel loose.
You will need about 1/3 yard each of black and white fun fur. I also saw a nice, furry bath rug that would be neat, only I didn't want to spend $20 on it just to cut it up. Check thrift stores for rugs or old jackets. The fun fur is $12 a yard at JoAnn Craft Stores. Unfortunately, it has a "Grain" to it, and it runs across the fabric bolt, so if you buy an 8-inch, full-width strip, the grain runs perpendicular to the direction you need it. I simply cut the pieces short, then glued them together. It is much easier to cut the fur with a utility knife than with scissors- the scissors cut the long hairs off, while the blade only slices through the backing. The scissors are for cutting the Velcro.

Step 2: Stripe

Measure a piece of white slightly wider than the stripe you want, with the grain if the fabric running away from the helmet visor. Most regular Striped Skunks actually have 2 stripes, which can vary in width from a thin "Pinstriping" to a nearly full white back. I folded the wide piece in two, then cut a piece out of the middle, making 2 stripes. I had to piece the stripes together out of shorter sections, because the fabric wasn't wide enough to have the grain run the right way. Simply cut some fur from the front edge of the rear piece, and glue it to the front piece. Make sure that the front end of the stripe is under the top edge of the face shield. This helps to keep the wind from pulling it off.

Step 3: Tail

I made one tail, but didn't like it, so I made a second one that looked better.
Cut a rectangle of black fur that is 1 inch longer than your tail (without tip) and half as wide. Cut 2 notches in one end, and make 2 or 3 slits in the middle.
Cut 3-4 small rectangular white pieces. Roll one piece into a cone, and glue it together. Glue 1-2 more over this cone to give it bulk. With the last piece, cut a series of slits to make a "Fringe" of fur, then glue just the top edge to the cone. Now the tip has some feathery bits.
Cut a white rectangle big enough to cover the slits in the black piece. Lay it, fur side down, over the slits. Put glue on both side edges of the black piece, and along the bottom edge. fold the black sides over on top of the white piece, and stick the tip into the end. Fluff some of the white through the slits.

Step 4: Velcro

Cut strips of Velcro long enough to reach all the way over the helmet. I used 2" stuff, so I had to cut it lengthwise. Adhere the hook side to the helmet, along where the stripe will be. It' s easier to stick the Velcro correctly if you remove the shield. I put the hook side on the helmet, that way if you miss the fuzzy side on the stripe, the Velcro will stick to the stripe itself. Put a wider strip crosswise on the back where the tail will attach.
Put a strip of fuzzy on the notch end of the tail, and strips on the stripes.
Stick 'Em on!

Step 5: Riding

Take it for a ride! The stripe should be able to handle a LOT of wind (tested to 115 MPH), but I haven't tested it in very hot or cold weather. It may not handle rain well- my previous attempt blew off during a downpour. the stripe is easily removed from the Velcro, in case of rain. Above 30 MPH, the tail streams straight out behind you.
Have fun! People WILL stare.