I got a ticket for not wearing a helmet once. Afterward, I jokingly said to a friend, "Yeah yeah, but helmets look dumb! And looking cool is what matters, right??" His response was, "Not as dumb as suffering brain damage when it could have been easily prevented." Obviously this is a little extreme, but it's true. There's no reason for me not to wear a helmet. The potential to spare me horrible injuries or even death is worth the small cost of a helmet.

Also, all helmets sold in the United States have to conform to certain safety regulations. There's no "unsafe" helmet on the market. They all protect you more or less an equal amount, so find the cheapest one and ride with peace of mind.

But remember, just because you're wearing a helmet doesn't mean you're invincible. Always maintain safe and cautious riding habits.