CALYX Helmet System

What it does

The CALYX Band and CALYX Expand helmet system provide a safe and comfortable biking experience for riders with thick and curly hair with a compressive headband and an expandable helmet to accommodate larger hair volumes.

Your inspiration

The inspiration for the CALYX helmet system came from personal experiences and feedback from the Black community. Riders, including team members, faced challenges finding helmets that fit over thick and curly hair. Existing helmets on the market failed to accommodate these hair types, leading to lack of helmet use. Through conversations with over 40 users and extensive market research, we identified the need for a helmet designed specifically for afro and voluminous hairstyles. This realization drove us to develop a solution that not only addresses safety concerns but also promotes inclusivity and equity in the biking community.

How it works

The CALYX helmet system consists of two main components: the CALYX Band and CALYX Expand. The CALYX Band is a compressive headband made from a blend of lycra, mesh, and satin. It compresses voluminous hair to fit underneath the helmet while minimizing frizz. Users place the band around their neck, pull it up to the forehead, then use the pull tab to stretch the material across the top of their head. An elastic band prevents it from slipping off. The CALYX Expand is an expandable helmet that provides additional room in the back for the user’s hair. The expansion mechanism expands up and out, where the hair is most dense, and adjusts in size to the user’s needs. Extra long straps and a quick-release buckle further ensure custom fit and comfort. The helmet has been tested to outperform an existing top rated product in reducing concussion risk. Our two-segment design allows the helmet to dissipate energy more effectively upon impact.

Design process

We identified the problem from personal experiences. We researched and conducted a user study on top-rated bike helmets to understand how they affect users' hair and identify design needs. We additionally researched helmet safety standards. We held many rounds of brainstorming sessions, created 40+ prototypes with numerous iterations, and tested our most prominent ideas with users throughout 4 studies to gain feedback. Patent research also informed our design choices. We developed CALYX Band through 12+ iterations. We used wigs and users to inform our decisions, selected materials that account for ventilation, compression, and frizz minimization, and included features to improve ease of use. We developed CALYX Expand from 150+ ideas and 30+ iterations. We created detailed CAD models and prototypes, testing them for fit and functionality. Collaboration with Virginia Tech's leading helmet testing lab validated the CALYX helmet’s safety performance. Impact tests assessing linear and rotational accelerations showed the CALYX prototypes had lower acceleration metrics, indicating better concussion mitigation. The helmet's frangible design improved energy dissipation, reducing concussion risk more effectively than a control helmet with a 5-star rating from Virginia Tech.

How it is different

The CALYX Helmet System uniquely caters to thick and curly haired users. The CALYX Band features inner satin hexagons that protect curls without compromising the fabric's stretch and compressibility. The satin minimizes friction, preserving curl integrity, while the elastic, compressive lycra wicks sweat, pushes hair away from the users’ face, and flattens voluminous hair to fit under a helmet. CALYX Band improves helmet fit while also preserving curls. The CALYX Expand helmet offers a uniquely customizable fit. Unlike existing helmets that rely on back dials and chin straps for limited size adjustment, or helmets that solely collapse in size, our helmet can adjust to increase size, shape, and length. Our expansion mechanism allows for an additional inch of room in the back for varying hair styles, and the size can be adjusted anywhere within an inch according to the user. Additionally, our extra long straps offer more adjustability in length.

Future plans

Our future plans include refining our expansion mechanism and creating a line of hair accessories to accommodate various hair types and styles. We aim to raise awareness of our solution through an active social media presence targeting key audiences. We will conduct extensive performance tests with the full helmet and a large user sample, as well as more thorough performance testing of the CALYX Band and Expand. Additionally, we aim to partner with a leading helmet brand manufacturer for better marketing and mass production of our helmet system.

Awards

Our helmet system is being published in the innovation section of the Northwestern magazine in Fall 2024, Northwestern’s leading magazine for all students, alumni, and faculty.