Cotton Candy

Honestly, I'd recommend going to find someone who can do a powder coat because the job is a little more fragile than I'd prefer, but if you're still interested, here are the steps I followed:

Sand down the frame. It isn't necessary to get down to the raw steel/aluminum, just enough to have a rough surface for the paint to stick. I did a pretty serious job on this one because it had quite a bit of topical rust near the joints, but if the bike is fresh, it's okay to paint over the deeper set paint. Just make sure the gloss is removed.

Find a spray primer and coat the frame 2-3 times. I used toilet paper/paper towel rolls to seal up the bottom bracket, seat tube, and steer tube to prevent any paint from entering the frame and clogging the threads. Once the primer dries, give it a very light sanding with a fine grit sand paper to keep a rough surface for the paint to cling to.

After the primer has been sanded, put on 2-3 coats of high durability spray paint (make sure it's not latex). It's definitely recommended to spray from 12+ inches in light bursts to avoid drips (this applies with the primer as well). Let it set for at least 2 hours to make sure it's dry.

Finally, add 1-2 coats of high gloss clear coat and let it set for 48 hours minimum (about a week is actually best). This allows for maximum setting and hardening of the primer/paint/clear coat for the most durable DIY paint job.

I'd recommend using a garage space if it's available in order to keep down on wind blowing any dust or grit into the paint. Also, hang it up from the collar clamp or bottom bracket so it's easy to ensure an even paint job (you don't want to miss any spots!). If a garage isn't available, you can do what I did and hang it from a tree in an open area.

That's about it. If you do end up going this route, be extremely careful about any metal bike racks it may be attached to, because the paint will chip rather easily. I'd definitely recommend getting a top tube pad which can act as a buffer between the frame and whatever you're locking it to.

I hope this helps, and enjoy riding!