Smoked Headlights
Silverado | F-150 | Tundra | Tacoma | RAM
Smoked headlights are aftermarket headlights that feature chrome-plated backgrounds and smoke-tinted lenses. Today many manufacturers offer such headlight assemblies as an alternative to the OEM headlights. As a rule, aftermarket smoked headlights come equipped with extra design elements, such as LED accents, halo rings, LED strips, and more. By smoked headlights, many people also understand OEM lights that they tinted using VHT spray or vinyl wrap.
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Common Smoked Headlights Types
In this guide, we will cover every possible aspect and type of the smoked headlights, including the DIY smoked headlights. So, see the specification below as we will explain what types and kinds of smoked headlights are available on the market and what are the major differences between them. We will also provide different pictures to explain the key aspects. For your convenience, we will note the brand names and the links to shop these headlights. If you are interested in the smoked headlights for your vehicle, consider the detailed guides we have below for the specific makes and models.
Most Popular Color Options
There are light-smoked and dark-smoked headlights. As a rule, smoked headlights come with chrome-plated background and tinted plastic lens. When selecting a set for your vehicle, mind not only the design you are into but also the laws of the state you live in. Note, that there are states, where it is illegal to tint headlights at all. Though, the majority of US states are quite okay with this headlight mod.
There are also smoked headlights that are called black smoked headlights. This usually does not mean a darker headlight tint. Black is for the headlight housing color. In this case, the background of the headlight is black, not chrome. As a rule, the manufacturer that offers these headlights along with the chrome smoked option will use the same color of exterior lens tint. So, the light transmission rating will be the same for both. See a Spec-D example below to better understand the difference.
Projector and Reflector Lights
When the name of the product says ‘Smoke Projector Headlights’, the headlight assembly comes equipped with the built-in projection lens. When the name is just ‘Smoke Headlights’, you are getting simple reflector style headlights. Note, that the projector headlights are considered more advanced since they employ an optic lens that forms the high and low beams. Reflector lenses just use the reflective surface of the headlight shell to form a beam. Usually, smoke projector headlights are more expensive, than reflector ones.
Smoked Halo Headlights
When the name of the product says ‘halo headlight’, you are looking at the headlight assembly that comes equipped with a halo ring. If it says ‘dual halo’, there will be 2 halos in each headlight. There are 3 main types of halo rings you may be offered when shopping for smoked halo headlights online:
- CCFL halo;
- plasma halo;
- LED halo.
- If you pick a CCFL halo, you are getting headlights that feature halo rings that are filled with gas. This gas provides an even glow, yet the halo itself will have a small gap. This is the place where the glass tube is connected to the wire.
- LED halo rings may have small LED chips on the surface. Note, that some LED halo rings may give not that smooth glow if you take a closer look at them.
- Plasma headlights are very similar to LEDs, as they have got solid-state LED lighting technology. They come powered with Chip-on-Board (COB) technology and provide an even glow. It’s fair to say, that plasma halo rings are the brightest ones among these three.
Smoked Headlights with LED DRL Bar
Such style of smoked headlights comes equipped with a bright LED accent line that works as daytime running lights (DRL). The installation is normally just plug-and-play, and the DRL wire is hooked up to the factory DRL wire. If you own an older vehicle that does not come equipped with the daytime running lights and you use low beams as DRLs, you can just connect the DRL wire of the aftermarket headlights to the low beam wire, and then hook both to the vehicle low beams. However, there is also an option to add a separate switch that will turn the DRLs on and off. Note, however, that this kind of mod will take you extra time and technical skills.
Aftermarket headlights with LED accents look very stylish and are extremely popular these days. So, if you are looking for that show car look for your car, truck, or SUV, you should consider them for your project. Sure thing, prices are very different and depend on the manufacturer, headlight style, extra light elements in the assembly, and certain other factors. So, it’s hard to say what is the average price for the smoked headlights with an LED DRL bar.
Switchback and Sequential Headlights
So, what is a sequential headlight? This is the dynamic style of the headlight where the turn signals show the way where you want to turn. The light looks like moving as the LEDs move in sequence in the direction you want to turn. Such headlights look sharp and are available with clear and chrome lenses, with chrome and black background. Though, if you are having a hard time finding the proper style of the smoked headlights with the sequential light and the manufacturers do not have it, you can always have the clear lens tinted on your own.
Just keep reading on, and you will see several great DIY methods that will explain how to smoke headlight lenses. Note, that there are certain tools and technical skills required for this. Besides, once you purchase aftermarket headlights and alter them, you automatically void the manufacturer’s warranty. So, before modifying any aftermarket headlights it is a good idea to test them for some time to make sure your assembly is free of defects and you will not need to replace them under the warranty.
Another good piece of advice for those, who seriously consider a pair of smoked aftermarket sequential headlights. There is one installation thing you need to consider for the switchback function to work. So if you have just installed such lights and you notice that the turn signal does not work properly, most likely you have simply made an installation error. Check out this guide to make sure you install sequential light modules properly.
Lights with Fiber Optic Accents
Aftermarket headlights offered by different manufacturers feature so many different designs. And adding fiber optics allows for making the design even more attractive, distinctive and aggressive. Manufacturers love this kind of LED element, as fiber optics is extremely durable, easy to work with, and inexpensive to manufacture. As a result, customers benefit from attractive prices and the lasting service of smoked headlights with fiber optic accents.
Principles of work are very simple. Fiber optic lighting utilizes optical fiber (flexible fiber made of glass or plastic) to transmit light from a light source (LED) to a remote location. In our case, LEDs lit up a properly shaped fiber element that evenly glows in the darkness. So, it takes just a piece of material and a couple of diodes to make those elements glow in your lights.
Steven is a certified mechanic and technical writer at Halo Headlights. Steven is excited about fast cars, loud music, and car mods. On yearly basis, he visits 
