hey harmony! im a big helmet fan myself and love to shop for them....if i did live in a non helmet law state, i would still wear one. you know why, cause stuff happens, and i sure dont need a busted head or face, cause when it happens, you dont get to dictate how it will go.

the only way your going to know what fits and what don't is to go do a bike shop and try them on for size. they are like hats, what may look good on one person, doesn't on another. you have to fit it to your head.

you have helmets that are non DOT, DOT , and DOT SNELL, which the later is the best as far as safety grade. i highly recommend 3/4 or full, or a modular(modular has a flip up front face protector, looks like a full face when down, but lifts up so you can talk/smoke/put on eyewear) there are also helmets with flip down sun shades on the inside as well as the main face shield. half helmets are what most cruiser people wear, and i do as well, but after a spill i had, i mostly wear full face, cause i know you don't get a second chance....

now the 3/4 helmets are pretty cool, they give better protection than half, and they come in some pretty cool designs, and they have a long clear face shield to help with bugs, birds, rocks, rain, and what not.

my favorite half helmet is by scorpion, exo 100, it has a flip down visor that is really cool for sun protection, wind, or rain, but pops back into the helmet when you don't need it. it is well made, removable liner for cleaning/replacement.

check out cycle gear, you can return the helmet if you don't like it, they are great about returns and things like that, and they have a huge selection in store.
hope i helped a little: http://www.cyclegear.com/category.cfm?L1=5000&L2=1&nav=Street_Riding_Motorcycle_Helmets

shannon
:

When I am not on 2 wheels, I work with people who have neurological issues.  Talking all day to people who have to re-learn how to use the restroom/talk/walk......makes a head injury scary as hell!  Spend the extra money on a nice skid lid.....because some things are worse than death 

Tyring the helmet on is a really, really good idea.
Many riders I know will wear a helmet in the shop for 30 minutes or more, just walking around and looking at stuff. Five to 10 minutes is not long enough to see if there's a real hot spot or DIS-comfort area. When you're riding for a half-day or longer, you'll find out just how well your helmet fits your noggin.
It would be a real drag to spend x-hundreds of dollars on a new brain bucket, only to find out a couple of days later that it really isn't THE one.

Oops...so sorry sir...

ok really....that was just some free advertising for the locals?   
My bad...I read it and fixated on you need to try it on....

Guess that means you need to make a visit to the great state of Alabama!

Springy...when we gonna go try on helmets together?

I agree - buying last year's model HJC was the reason I was able to get it for 100.00 at motorcyclecloseouts.com.  I too am a helmet advocate.  Like Jester said - there are things worse than death.

It's definitely a good idea to go out & try on some helmets to find the right style/size/fit for you. 
Another tip, when you go to try some on, wear your hair the way you would when you are going to ride with the helmet on.
Just my 2 cents! 

It is inconceivable that anyone would ever ride a motorcycle without a helmet - law or no law. I must admit I am a helmet junkie. There I have said it on a public forum. I am looking for a 12 Step Program to help me with this problem. I have finally convinced my best friend and Harley rider to get rid of that useless skid lid he has. He is shopping for a full face helmet now.
My current favorite helmet is the HJC FS15. I have owned a couple of Scorpion helmets and found them to be very noisy. My FS15 is quieter than my Shoei 1000.
Here's a site that does a pretty good job of reviewing helmets. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm

Many people feel the same way about RIDING a motorcycle. 

I know... I was being a smarty-pants