The top five things to look for in a helmet:
1) Fit
2) Fit
3) Fit
4) Fit
5) Fit
Watch this:
Link to original page on YouTube.
Any of the recognized brands (i.e. the brands that the major online retailers carry) will be fine. Off-brand stuff off of ebay is to be avoided.
Re noise: A few years back I got a very generous gift from my wife that I used to buy what is supposed to be one of the quietest helmets out there, the Schuberth S2.
Guess what: I still wear earplugs.
Nice to have: An internal sun visor.