Can bamboo be painted?

Yes and no. The inside of the bamboo is a great wood to paint. Since the outside of the bamboo has a natural silicone wax there is very little chance that any dye or paint will adhere well. The only way to overcome this that I know is to wait until the bamboo is weathered to gray, or to remove the skin by sanding or scraping.

The paint will not harm the bamboo.