Painted
No, it is some type of colored tape used for decorating.
Different helmets
Many helmets worn by soldiers in World War I had pictures painted on them like lightning bolts, dice, and targets. The 9th infantry regiment's helmets had targets painted on the tops of them that looked like bulls' eyes.
the painted-turtle
In 1948, Fred Gehrke, halfback for the Los Angeles Rams, painted horns on the Rams helmets.
No they do no normally come in pink or purple. However you can get a helmets custom painted at you local bike painting shop or at buymotorcyclehelmets.com.
No the pictures are decals. Each player has two helmets per game so they can change them out if need be during the game.
Hey, I am the owner of Splat Designs Inc. I am based out of Gresham, OR. I do all kinds of Airbrushing and custom painting. I specialize in painting helmets. Call, text, or email me anytime. Thanks!
The painted turtle, Chrysemys picta, is the state reptile of Michigan.
I should know... It's MICHIGAN! I live in Michigan and the painted turtle is amazing to our culture! Hope that helped!
For decoration. Same reason some armies had brass eagles, or spikes, or painted shields, or unit crests on their helmets; decoration. In Vietnam, American GI's wrote griffiti on the cloth camoflage covers which adorned their steel helmets.
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division