Hi

I'm coming to BKK with the missus in a couple of weeks. She's of Afro-Caribbean descent and has her hair straightened every 3 months or so. She's happy to bring her own relaxer kits with her but doesn't really like doing her hair herself. Does anyone here know if there are any salons that can cater for afro hair straightening ?

Any help greatly appreciated

Forget it. When get gets to Thailand, as an Afro-Caribbean woman she might be experiencing more annoying concerns than getting her hair done. But, at any rate, I would say her best chances are to find the African community in Bangkok and ask them who does hair.

There is a place in one of the sub-sois near Nana/Sukhumvit Soi 3 that is always full of African women and girls having their hair done. I'll try to track down the details.

There is a place in one of the sub-sois near Nana/Sukhumvit Soi 3 that is always full of African women and girls having their hair done. I'll try to track down the details.

Ahh thank you so much ....

Forget it. When get gets to Thailand, as an Afro-Caribbean woman she might be experiencing more annoying concerns than getting her hair done.

Like what ? . . .

Like overt racism. Like Thais making comments about her race in Thai right in front of her face. Like subtle but very real gestures. Or like, in the case of my friend, having rocks thrown at her when she went to visit the Dhammanda's temple. Not to mention, of course, the racism towards foreign women in particular by a particular segment of the white, male expat population. So, she will experience a triple whammy.

However, if she is with a male and especially white male most of the time, that should minimize some of it.

I actually have to say that Afro hair is perceived as a really cool and hip thing amongst the youngsters in Thailand esp. BKK. Be prepared to get a lot of smiles from students and teenagers when your gf walks around in BKK. Sure your gf will be looked at a lot but just be cool and smile, everything will be allright. Have a great time in Thailand!

Like overt racism. Like Thais making comments about her race in Thai right in front of her face. Like subtle but very real gestures. Or like, in the case of my friend, having rocks thrown at her when she went to visit the Dhammanda's temple. Not to mention, of course, the racism towards foreign women in particular by a particular segment of the white, male expat population. So, she will experience a triple whammy.

However, if she is with a male and especially white male most of the time, that should minimize some of it.

In stark contrast, I've read elsewhere on Thaivisa that Thais are fairly non-plussed about race and generally quite friendly if you're respectful and friendly to them. She won't be with a white male, just me . . . an Afro-Caribbean male . . .

My days of violent retaliation against the racism I suffered as a lad on the streets of Notting Hill before it went all gentrified are loooooooooooonnnggggg gone but they have prepared me for pretty much anything but, then again, I'm assuming the Thais won't be chasing us down the street with knives and coshes

As for the racist, white males but thanks for the heads up, Kat

Won't it be too hot to have afro or even lots of hair in Thailand?

Don't belive eveyrthing you read. The Thais are very racist, however their natural non-confrontatative nature will mean that this will be near on invisible to you. It is more a fear of the unknown though rather than a deep seated sense of superiority. Also commenting on someone's appearance is not necessarily considered rude here. The beauty ideal here is to have white skin, but as you will see, most Thais don't. They think nothing of openly talking about the fact that they or their friend is 'black'. In fact it is a popular nickname for dark skinned children.

My friend, who is afro-caribbean and also hold a masters in Thai studies, has been coming to Thailand for years. Loves it to death and has many many friends here. He tells a funny story about one family who he came across. They were sitting on a train in a remote part of Thailand and one seat was free next to my friend. The family had a young woman as part of their group and she took the seat. For the next 3 hours they proceeded to mock her in Thai for her seating companion and continually made comments about him and his appearance. Eventually my friend, who is so laid back he is practically horizontal, had enough and snapped a response to one comment they had made in perfect, fluent Thai. He says that the look on their faces was more than enough revenge. They were mortified to say the least. They then though were very curious and struck up a conversation that lasted the remaining 3 hours of his journey. Needless to say he is now 5 years later exceptionally close to this family. He visits them for Songkran every year and no hard feelings are held.

Won't it be too hot to have afro or even lots of hair in Thailand?

Having afro-caribbean hair does not mean you have an afro, it could be any length or style. Certain processes such as relaxing (straightening) need frequent maintenance though and this is something that only a hair dresser with experience of Afro-Caribbean hair could do.

My son is dark-skinned Asian and his hair goes into a wild and woolly afro style when he is allowed to grow it long during school vacations. The worst comments made to his face were in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore but rarely in SE Asia. Even in those Chinese countries the comments were about his skin colour (dark = stupid/peasant) and not his hair. Comments from Thais are pretty mild compared to the Taiwanese and Hongkies.

The beauty ideal here is to have white skin, but as you will see, most Thais don't.

Hmm . . . African and Indian cultures have similar notions about skin colour. I find it ironic, though, that the beauty ideal in these countries also happens to be the type of skin that tends to age a bit more quickly and yet, in the UK, people go to great lengths to be darker, often ignoring the health risks.

The beauty ideal here is to have white skin, but as you will see, most Thais don't.

Hmm . . . African and Indian cultures have similar notions about skin colour. I find it ironic, though, that the beauty ideal in these countries also happens to be the type of skin that tends to age a bit more quickly and yet, in the UK, people go to great lengths to be darker, often ignoring the health risks.

I studied anthropology and you find the same phenomenom all over the world. In countries where food is scarce, the ideal is to be fat, in countries where food is surpless, the ideal is to be skinny, straight hair/curly hair, white/black etc. Just goes to show that the beauty ideal is never meant to be attainable. Merely a painful image that will keep women locked into a constant state of dissatisfaction and insecurity often resulting in a lot of money being spent on trying to improve their particular imperfections. And who benefits from this? Why the "beauty" industry of course.

Like overt racism. Like Thais making comments about her race in Thai right in front of her face. Like subtle but very real gestures. Or like, in the case of my friend, having rocks thrown at her when she went to visit the Dhammanda's temple. Not to mention, of course, the racism towards foreign women in particular by a particular segment of the white, male expat population. So, she will experience a triple whammy.

However, if she is with a male and especially white male most of the time, that should minimize some of it.

In stark contrast, I've read elsewhere on Thaivisa that Thais are fairly non-plussed about race and generally quite friendly if you're respectful and friendly to them. She won't be with a white male, just me . . . an Afro-Caribbean male . . .

My days of violent retaliation against the racism I suffered as a lad on the streets of Notting Hill before it went all gentrified are loooooooooooonnnggggg gone but they have prepared me for pretty much anything but, then again, I'm assuming the Thais won't be chasing us down the street with knives and coshes

As for the racist, white males but thanks for the heads up, Kat

You should find out more about the demographics of the majority TV posters before using majority opinion here as a yardstick. I'm sure many here would also deny your experiences as an Afro-Caribbean lad in the streets of England. Would that make it less true?

At any rate, you sound like someone I would love to share a beer with in LOS, and I'm sure your partner will be fine especially with you at her side, but just remember that the way her feminine identity as an Afro-Caribbean woman will be besieged and derided in LOS will be much different than your experiences in England. It would be great if she could find some other Afro-Caribbean females to befriend.

Take care, and all the best.

The Thais are very racist, however their natural non-confrontatative nature will mean that this will be near on invisible to you.

This is definitely true. As long as you can't understand their Thai you don't have to worry about it.

The Thais are very racist, however their natural non-confrontatative nature will mean that this will be near on invisible to you.

This is definitely true. As long as you can't understand their Thai you don't have to worry about it.

Are they racist towards white folks too ?

yes.

...but not because of their white skin (which they envy). Jibes usually come in the form of under-the-breath comments to friends about their big bellies, big noses, or sun-burnt foreheads!

...but not because of their white skin (which they envy). Jibes usually come in the form of under-the-breath comments to friends about their big bellies, big noses, or sun-burnt foreheads!

Ok well at least I have some idea of what to expect.

Have to use my dazzling personality to win 'em over

I really beleive that unless you are going to learning fluent thai then you wont even notice it but it may come in other overt forms, like taxis refusing to pick you up, comments about how black your skin, (this being a national past time btw & not really a race issue imo) or hearing the word "negro" in a stream of thai which will make you aware they are talking about you but you & she will come up against the occasional prat but then you more than likely already have in your own countris too so nothing to totally be bothered about & you really wont have to put up with physical/violent racial reaction in the LOS that may/has happened to you in the west.

Yes, Thais are also racist towards white people and other nationalities, and have an obsession with skin color in general, but they are also a very status oriented society and have clear, distinct ideas about the status of different races and nationalities beyond just skin color. Burmese and other poor Southeast Asians are on the bottom, along with Africans. This world view enables them to equate these groups to animals, with the justification of their culture.

So, it will be helpful that you will have a Western passport, speak English, and have relatively more money, but the majority Thai culture (and most of Asia for that matter) will always equate people of African descent as "unclean".

I am male Afro-Caribean as you call it, been to Thailand many times never have I felt discriminated against in LOS. I can see see the look, hear the whispers and even heard some of the joke my friends translate for me or they tell me once they get to know me. More like I was the yard stick for what dark is, they would hhold their arms near mine to compare, that is nothing. It's nothing compare to what you would encounter in cities like New York, London or Paris.

My experiences in these cities are worst , like catching a taxi in NYC, refuse entrance to a club, make you wait for service, assuming your the parking attendant, going to an expensive store that all of sudden just closed these to me are worst than anything I have ever experience in LOS. Because you can't never be sure why the taxi did not stop for you or why you could not get in the club or why the guy park his car and handed you his key.

When to small village near Chainat with a friend for the weekend, I was a superstar people came from far away to come see me little children wanted to touch me. No one in Thailand cross the street at my site or grab their pocket if i sat next to them.

Your friend will have the best time of her life in Thailand, just smile and she will win them over.

I am male Afro-Caribean as you call it, been to Thailand many times never have I felt discriminated against in LOS. I can see see the look, hear the whispers and even heard some of the joke my friends translate for me or they tell me once they get to know me. More like I was the yard stick for what dark is, they would hhold their arms near mine to compare, that is nothing. It's nothing compare to what you would encounter in cities like New York, London or Paris.

My experiences in these cities are worst , like catching a taxi in NYC, refuse entrance to a club, make you wait for service, assuming your the parking attendant, going to an expensive store that all of sudden just closed these to me are worst than anything I have ever experience in LOS. Because you can't never be sure why the taxi did not stop for you or why you could not get in the club or why the guy park his car and handed you his key.

When to small village near Chainat with a friend for the weekend, I was a superstar people came from far away to come see me little children wanted to touch me. No one in Thailand cross the street at my site or grab their pocket if i sat next to them.

Your friend will have the best time of her life in Thailand, just smile and she will win them over.

Yes, there is no doubt that there is racism and racist people in New York, London or Paris. I am from New York, am mixed-race but look white, but grew up with parents and siblings who are visibly black, in the Bronx. The problem with taxi drivers are well known, but the majority of yellow taxi drivers in New York are foreign, with a high proportion from Asia. I'm not sure which clubs you tried to get into, but a lot of them in New York turn people away and discriminate for all kinds of stupid reasons, other than race. But, yes, I agree, there are a lot of ignorant racist people in New York and in the States, in general. Just look at our current election. But, on the other hand, we do have a serious presidential candidate who is visibly black/mixed race from a single-parent household.

In your experience, as a visitor to both cities, New York is worse, but judging from your post you have not lived in those cities. It is much worse when you have no legal recourse against discrimination or abuse at work or in the law, and in fact the culture supports it. That is the case with Thailand and most of Asia, and in fact it is even more particular for women, so I'm not sure you can talk for them either.

Has she tried Sedu hair straighteners? I have read about them lots on internet forums. I believe they were designed for Afro hair.

You can only get them from one place, Folica in the US. Check out the reviews (with pictures!).

http://www.folica.com/Sedu_Ionic_Cera_d1560.html

They do deliver to the UK (though you may get stung by customs, though should still work out ok), they even do a UK voltage version but I posted that link as it's the one with all the reviews.

. . . assuming your the parking attendant,

Yeah, that happened to me after I'd been to a work party at a high-end hotel in Park Lane. For those who don't know Park Lane in London, it's ridiculously expensive and home to hotels like the Dorchester.

I was wearing the usual dark suit, shirt and tie and waiting for a friend so we could go on somewhere less stuffy when this guy pulled up in his Lamborghini Gallardo and tried to hand me his keys. I kept my hands firmly in my pockets which, for anyone with any sense, would indicate that I wasn't a valet. The arrogant gimp just put the keys into my jacket breast pocket and swanned off to meet his floosie in the lobby.

I was very p***ed off so got in, revved the engine till it bounced off the limiter a couple of times and took off on a lap of Park Lane and Hyde Park Corner. Upon my return, I burned off his tyres with a couple of doughnuts leaving them virtually bald . . .

Would've loved to see his face when he came back

Oh, and by the way, the "missus" is now an ex . . . so I'm here alone and I SOooooooo needn't have worried. I've been treated extremely well by the Thais . . . of all shades. That might have something to do with the fact that I'm a little lighter than some of the darker people but I'm inclined to believe it's got more to do with the fact that I treat them with respect . . .

Edited May 22, 200818 yr by HardenedSoul

Wow.. a lot of different experiences from different people.

If you are REALLY worried, just live in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana for a year. Then you can live anywhere in the world, and unless it is blatant in your face racism, you will never notice a thing.

But I am with bonviveur on this topic that was supposed to be about hair. As long as she smiles, and has a good attitude, dresses nice (not like bum as appearance are everything here in Thailand) she will be fine, and have a blast. A nice smile and a great attitude will take you a long ways here in Thailand.

The only person I have ever met that was black who had a negative experience in Thailand, had chopped off all her hair, never smiled, just looked un-happy and miserable, and did not dress cute. I think this affected the way people treated her.

If she can find a job and make friends quickly as opposed to sitting at home being lonely and miserable, then she should be A-okay, but it will take some getting used to.

As for getting her hair done, she should bring all her supplies with her. But as someone said there is a place on Nana (a Thai lady married to an African) that does hair.

On another note, walking up to a stranger and asking where they got their hair done is also a good way to meet and make friends when she first arrives. It can lead to lunch dates and social networking in general.. and not only amongst black people but other western women.

She can pm if she wants..

"I got da motts.."

I think in Thailand its a different concept or notion of Racism

albeit it still sucks!!!

But Thais can be incredibly ignorant to how loud they speak or what they say that may make others feel bad...

I have seen it a thousand times too... and the worse thing is in Thailand they shout Nigro when they see one so that everyone around them can hear - and dont see it as a bad thing.

But for anyone afro caribean travelling to Thailand - dont worry - they cant help it for being uneducated and are equally racist towards each other thinking that white skin from the Chinese is more beautiful than their own. They are a crazy mixed up culture that really dont know right from wrong.... but at the same time do try to do the right thing most of the time...

Yes, Thais are also racist towards white people and other nationalities, and have an obsession with skin color in general, but they are also a very status oriented society and have clear, distinct ideas about the status of different races and nationalities beyond just skin color. Burmese and other poor Southeast Asians are on the bottom, along with Africans. This world view enables them to equate these groups to animals, with the justification of their culture.

So, it will be helpful that you will have a Western passport, speak English, and have relatively more money, but the majority Thai culture (and most of Asia for that matter) will always equate people of African descent as "unclean".

Clearly, any Thai preference for white over black, straight hair over afro, their culture over that of other people, and, probably dogs over cats should be made a human rights violation subject to prosecution in The Hague. Above all, the standards of NYC, Paris, London, and Washington DC should be enforced worldwide.

Really necessary to respond to a two year old post with a flame? I mean, really?