Being Black in Thailand

Thailand is a culturally rich country. It’s chock-full of people from every corner of the globe. Even still, it’s still easy to question if you’re the type of person that will fit into the social environment here. Every person is different and reacts to social situations differently. I’m offering my personal experiences as an example of how it feels to be a black person in Thailand. 

Hair

A hair supply store at the MBK center in Bangkok

My biggest concern when first coming here was the age-old question, “Who is gonna do my hair.” Is it possible to get black hair done in Thailand? Fortunately, the answer is yes. You have two options: do it yourself or go to the salon. 

I personally chose the former. and are two great services that have a plethora of braiding hair in different colors, styles, and curl patterns. For every style, I would spend 1,000 to 2,000 baht or $30 to $60 on supplies. I would then block out a weekend on my calendar to do my hair. This is the cheapest way but also takes the most work and lots of arm strength.

The second option is to find a salon. You can use your preferred search engine to find a stylist that fits your personal needs. If you’re living in Northern Thailand you can visit the salon in Chiang Mai. The owner, Nubian, is friendly and offers reasonable rates on all your favorite and latest hairstyles. Many people living in the north take a 1 or 2-day trip to get their hair braided. For me, living in Chiang Rai, it’s a 4 hour bus ride to the city which costs around 206 THB or $7 USD. It’s also a great excuse to visit Chiang Mai. 

If you're in a more southern part of Thailand that’s even better as Bangkok has a litany of cultural resources for you to use. There, you can make an appointment with . This option may require a bus ride or flight to Bangkok, neither of which will cost over 1500 THB or $45 USD round trip with proper planning. When asking the salons about their rates, I was delighted to hear they offered highly discounted prices from what I’m used to at home. These are only 2 options that I am familiar with but there are many more. You can use your personal preferences and deduction to find a stylist that is to your liking.

Makeup

A Fenty Beauty stand inside the Central Embassy Sephora in Bangkok

The next question I had was “Where am I gonna find my shade match?” This dilemma has been slightly trickier than the hair one. To start, I tried to bring as much makeup from home as possible. Any foundation, concealer, or contour that I knew would match my skin tone. I was very worried about there being limited options. However, there are some options for buying dark skinned makeup in Thailand. This country holds many brands that can also be found in America. You can go to many Sephora’s in Bangkok and Phuket. One brand you’ll be excited to see there is Fenty Beauty, a company famous for having an extensive collection of shade ranges. If these locations are too far, you can get your makeup delivered to you via Lazada, Shopee, or the makeup company’s website. 

Even still, If you need things in a pinch you may have to get creative. Eyeliner and mascara are easy enough because they tend to be the same color everywhere. I found myself truly struggling in the lip area. Local Thai beauty stores mainly carry reds and pinks which may not suit your preference. In situations like these, it’s important to get creative. For example, you can try using eyebrow pencils for a brown or black lip liner. Frankly, Thailand is way too humid for me to wear makeup on a regular basis. You might realize you don't want to wear it at all in your time here.

Skin Products

An "Extra Bright Gluta-Hya" lotion found at a convenience store

Just like anywhere else, there are also things to look out for. In Thailand, one of the beauty standards is to be as pale as possible. This can make shopping for skin products slightly more difficult. These are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for lotions, soaps, sunscreens, and so on. Try to avoid anything that says Extra Bright/White or mentions having Vitamin C. Also be cautious about any products that say Gluta- or Glutathione. It's a naturally occurring chemical in our body that when used in excess amounts can change your skin tone. This makes shopping slightly more inconvenient but if you know what to look out for, you can make more informed choices.

 Social Environment

The last and possibly most important question I had was, “Will I be welcomed there?” The answer to this differs from person to person and I can only refer to my own experiences. Being Black in Thailand feels like being black anywhere in the world. Sometimes it’s great and other times you’ll encounter situations that make you uncomfortable, angry and isolated. In terms of the former, Thai culture requires that they be very polite and save face. You may hear it referred to as “kreng jai”. In this case, it means there's a very low chance you’ll ever be attacked or harassed out in public. 

As a foreigner, you look different and many Thai people are excited to see you. This can mean curious stares or compliments from people on the street. For example, I often have people come to me and say things like “You're beautiful!” and “I love your complexion!” Others may be eager to have someone to practice English with. Some might even want to take your picture but you can always just say no. 

On the flip side, I think there is negativity everywhere and the warm welcome doesn't make Thailand an exception. You may come across silly questions like “Do you wash your hair?” You might even meet people that are afraid of you. In my case, I knew way too much Thai for my own good and would hear comments like “Where’d this black girl come from?” or “Why does she look like that?” In these situations, I’d just answer in Thai which always got a shocked face and a speedy apology. It also gave me something to laugh about on the way home. Usually those situations are rooted in ignorance and how many non-Thai people they have seen before. This part of your experience may vary based on where you are placed. A city with high tourist traffic may make it a little more commonplace to see foreigners roaming about. However, even a city as populated as Bangkok can have things like this happen. If ever you’re feeling isolated there’s a of people having the exact same experience as you. 

Overall, Thailand is a beautiful country with some of the most exciting people and experiences you’ll ever have. It’s a great opportunity to visit for any amount of time. There are kind people everywhere and there are also malicious people everywhere in the world. Don't let those kinds of people get in the way of you broadening your world view and having once in a lifetime experiences. I haven't even left Thailand yet and I’m already excited for when I return.