Types of halo headlights & basic features

You can select the design of the halo headlights that you like based on the look you are into. Below is a quick classification that is used by the significant aftermarket headlight manufacturers, such as Spyder, Anzo, Spec-D Tuning, IPCW, Recon, etc. If you have this information handy, you will quickly understand what kind of lights are offered based on their title.

• Halo headlights - headlights that feature 1 built-in halo ring per assembly. As long as nothing like ‘CCFL’ is mentioned next, this assembly uses LEDs to make the halos glow.
• Dual halo headlights are lights that feature 2 halo rings per one headlight assembly.
• CCFL halo headlights feature 1 CCFL halo ring per side.
• Dual CCFL halo headlights have got 2 CCFL halo rings in each headlight.
• Halo projector headlights feature 1 halo ring and a projector lens for the low beam in each headlight. If the name of the headlights you are looking at does not say ‘projector,’ you will get the reflector headlights.
• LED halo headlights. That ‘LED’ may look confusing, so we’ll explain this. LED halo lights have got LED accents. As a rule, these accents turn on with your DRLs and are for aesthetics. Note that these headlights are not equipped with an LED conversion kit and are not specifically designed for such an upgrade. Pay attention to this when buying headlights.
• Black halo headlights feature a black background and a clear lens.
• Chrome halo headlights feature a chrome-plated background and a transparent lens.
• Smoke halo headlights are built the same, as chrome headlights, the only difference is about the plastic exterior lens. It is slightly tinted. Make sure such lights are legal in your state before purchasing such a headlight assembly.

Technical features of halos in aftermarket headlight assemblies

When you check out the selection of aftermarket headlights for your car, truck, minivan or SUV, you will notice, that there are many things that are similar for all halo headlights on the US market. Normally, halo rings and LED accents are arranged on chrome or black substrates, which creates that custom effect.

The majority of aftermarket halo headlights feature built-in projector lenses for superior illumination. Unless the headlights you are looking at are called factory style, OE style, or Euro headlights, they feature that projector lens for the low beam.

As for the halo rings, there are several popular options available on the American aftermarket headlight market:

1. CCFL halo rings (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light) are filled with glowing gas.
2. LED halo rings feature several light-emitting diodes that glow and make the halo ring glow.
3. Plasma halos employ the latest technologies to create a solid glowing ring without giving that segmented appearance.

If we are talking about LED halos, there are two main ways the light-emitting diodes are arranged:

1. Mounted on an SMD (surface mount device). This is a kind of chip that arranges LEDs within one halo ring.
2. Employ semi-conductor technology for even a non-segmented look.

These variations allow everyone looking for custom headlight solutions to pick the right design and style of aftermarket headlights. Check out this article to find out more about halo ring types and compare different types of halos: CCFL vs LED vs Plasma halos: Comparison.

Reflector and projector lights

As noted, many aftermarket headlights with halo surroundings come with projector beams for the low beam. Quality projector beams provide better visibility at night and help focus the light produced by the headlight bulb. Adjusting the headlight bulbs properly will give you the perfect angle for your headlights, directed precisely where you need to.

An elliptical reflector and a transparent lens provide a perfectly focused light beam. You will notice the difference if you compare this beam with the one produced by the factory parabolic reflector technology on older vehicles or optic lenses of conventional lights.

Another great thing about having a set of projector headlights is the ergonomic design. Compared to the reflector, the projector lens is small enough, so there is more room for creative elements, like halos and LEDs, in the headlight assembly.

Halo ring kits for the factory lights

If you do not wish to replace your OEM headlight assemblies, but still like the aesthetic effect halo rings create, there is one more variant for you. You can purchase a set of halo rings, controllers, and wiring and get the aftermarket halos installed. You will need around 2 hours to install a regular LED halo ring kit in the factory composite headlight assemblies. Of course, halo rings differ in shape, design, and technology depending on the manufacturer. The installation process is pretty simple, and you will cope with it if you have basic tools and some mechanical skills.

Aftermarket halo kits feature plasma LED technology that ensures the bright and even glow these halo rings produce. The backing of such halo rings is made of aluminum, so the construction is lightweight, durable, and resistant to moisture, corrosion, rust, vibration, etc. Check out our guide to halo ring kits to better understand how these products are installed and what is included in the kit.

Sealed beam headlights conversion

Great news for those, who were not happy their older car, truck or SUV came equipped with the sealed beam headlight assemblies. If you are tired of that old-school look and think of something aftermarket, consider sealed beam conversion halo headlights. Amazon and the leading aftermarket headlight manufacturers offer solutions with projector and reflector designs that ensure great visibility at night.

The designs differ from manufacturer to manufacturer so that you can pick black, chrome, smoke lights, ones with halos, or LED accents. Unlike the stock-sealed beam lights, the aftermarket conversion headlights feature replaceable halogen bulbs and can be upgraded to HID or LED for even brighter output. You may need round or rectangular headlight assemblies based on the vehicle application. Some vehicles require four headlight assemblies for a finished look (2 per side).

History and Origins of ‘Angel Eyes’

Halo headlights, also known as ‘angel eyes,’ have first appeared on BMWs. They became a distinctive feature of this particular make. The aggressive fascia of a BMW of the 1990s has always been associated with their corporate ‘kidney grille’ and angel-eye headlights. With time, these lights became popular among car enthusiasts, and, as a result, many manufacturers started offering headlights with glowing rings for many popular vehicle applications.

Today, you can find halo headlights for almost any vehicle. So many brands offer aftermarket headlight assemblies, and halo rings that you can install into your stock headlights and enjoy the combination of custom touch and OEM quality. And if you are DIY enthusiast just as we are, we have a great recommendation for you. Check out Husky tool benches to make sure you have easy access to the headlights of your vehicle, as well as to the other parts. You will enjoy the quality and durability of these products just as much as we do when we are working on headlight mods for our customers.