Can I paint my helmet? Dye my chinstraps?

[jkaler48]

It is known that Romans enjoyed a bit of color on their helmets such as on crests, contrasting metals applied (brass on iron) Silvered or tinned helmets and red inside helmet rosettes. But how about painted decoration?
Painting eyes under the eyebrows would look interesting for example.
Some helmets use leather chinstraps straps (Coolus C Gallic A among others) Dyeing chinstraps different colors might look good but would it
be historically correct? Are their any surviving clues in the archeological,
iconographic, or written record?

Here is a thread from 2006/early 2007 Any new evidence since then?

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... highlight=

[Magnus]

Painted helments have not come up since that thread...so I'm guessing no new evidene.

I'd say you're fine to dye your leather bits any roman colour you want.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

of course you can dye your chinstrap, but personally i did'nt do that. With your sweat it can be decolorate, staining your face...