Staying Pretty Abroad: A Conversation with Christina Bellevue on Beauty, Haircare, and Navigating Japan as a Black Traveler
By Leroy Adams
In the ever-expanding world of Black travel, one question often arises: How do we maintain our beauty and self-care routines while living or traveling abroad? For Black women in particular, the challenges of finding haircare and skincare products in countries where these needs aren't prioritized can be daunting.
To explore this topic, Culture Travels sat down with Christina Bellevue, beauty consultant, author, and founder of Christina in Color. Having lived in Japan for two years, Christina shares her journey of navigating an unfamiliar beauty landscape, her love for anime, and how she turned a personal struggle into a valuable resource for other Black travelers.
Finding Community in Black Travel Spaces
Leroy Adams: Christina, we first connected at the Future of Black Tourism Leadership Conclave, which was a fantastic experience. What was it like for you as a Canadian content creator in that space?
Christina Bellevue: It was incredibly inspiring! The Black travel content creator ecosystem in Canada is still fairly new and small, so being in a space with so many creators—both established and emerging—was a breath of fresh air. I was honestly a little jealous because you all in the U.S. have such amazing opportunities. But I left motivated and full of ideas.
The Black Hair Dilemma Abroad
Leroy Adams: One of the biggest conversations I want to explore is Black women’s hair preparation before a trip. The amount of time, money, and effort that goes into this process is a whole phenomenon. And for those living abroad, maintaining their hair and finding products becomes an even bigger challenge. You actually wrote a book about this, focusing on Japan. What led you to that?
Christina Bellevue: Yes! In 2018, I did an Eat, Pray, Love-style move—I quit my six-figure job in Toronto, sold all my belongings, and moved to Japan with just two suitcases. But once I got there, I had a moment of panic: How am I going to stay pretty in a country where I don’t speak the language, where 98% of the population doesn’t look like me, and where I have no access to the hair and skincare products I need?
So, I started experimenting. I tested Japanese products to see what would work for my hair and skin. I documented everything, which eventually became my book. The moment that really solidified my decision was when I ran out of haircare products and had to get a friend to ship me some overnight. That shipping cost me $350. That’s when I said, Sis, you cannot do this every time.
Japan’s Appeal to Black Travelers
Leroy Adams: It’s interesting that so many Black people are fascinated by Japan. What do you think draws us there?
Christina Bellevue: For me, anime was my first introduction—specifically Sailor Moon. I grew up in a predominantly white area in Quebec, so seeing a completely different culture, a futuristic-looking world, was mesmerizing. Then as I got older, I saw how deeply embedded Japanese culture was in everyday life—Sony, Nintendo, Toyota. I visited Japan in 2017, loved it, and moved there a year later.
The Struggle of Finding Black Beauty Products in Japan
Leroy Adams: Your first experience trying to find Black haircare products—what was that like?
Christina Bellevue: Let me tell you—it was a struggle! In a typical Japanese drugstore, everything is catered to Japanese hair, which means straightening, smoothing, and volumizing products, but nothing for curls or coils. The options were nonexistent.
But then I got creative. I found a product called “The Product”, which was labeled as a dry shampoo, but it was actually a liquid scalp refresher. When I had braids in the summer heat, this product was a lifesaver. I would spray it on my scalp to keep it fresh, and it worked perfectly for my hair type.
Black Influence on Japanese Beauty Standards
Leroy Adams: Black culture has influenced beauty standards worldwide. Have you seen that play out in Japan?
Christina Bellevue: In Japan, the influence is subtle but present. Instead of seeing fully Black models in advertisements, you often see biracial Black-Japanese figures like Naomi Osaka or Ariana Miyamoto (Miss Universe Japan 2015). But where I really saw Black influence was in hair—Japanese salons were offering braids, locs, and even perms inspired by Black hairstyles. That was fascinating to me.
Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation
Leroy Adams: That’s interesting. How do you draw the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation?
Christina Bellevue: It’s tricky. I think it comes down to intent and respect. I actually had a moment of self-reflection when I did a Geisha makeover in Kyoto. I asked the women at the salon how they felt about foreigners participating, and they told me, “We love it because Geisha culture is fading, and this keeps it alive.” That made me realize that if something is done respectfully and with an understanding of its origins, it can be a way of honoring the culture rather than taking from it.
So when I see Japanese people embracing Black hairstyles with proper knowledge and appreciation, I view it as a cultural exchange rather than appropriation.
Lessons in Business from Japan
Leroy Adams: You’re an entrepreneur. What are some business lessons you took from Japan?
Christina Bellevue: Two major things:
Patience and Relationship Building – In Japan, it’s all about long-term relationships, not quick transactions. I had to go to tea meetings just to get to know someone before doing business. That really stuck with me.
Craftsmanship Over Speed – In North America, we rush to be the first. But in Japan, they take their time to perfect a product before launching. As I learned working at Procter & Gamble, “We may not be the first, but we will be the best.” That lesson is invaluable in business.
Final Thoughts
Leroy Adams: For anyone considering buying your book, why should they?
Christina Bellevue: If you’re a Black traveler heading to Japan, this book will save you time, money, and frustration. It’s a one-stop guide for everything—packing lists, where to find a hairstylist in Tokyo, which Japanese beauty products actually work for us, and much more. Let this be one less thing you have to worry about while traveling.
Leroy Adams: That’s amazing. Thank you so much for joining us today, Christina. How can people stay connected with you?
Christina Bellevue: Instagram is the best place—@ChristinaInColour (with a U). My book is available on Amazon.com.
Leroy Adams: Thank you again for this incredible conversation. And for our audience, stay tuned—we’ll definitely have Christina back for a panel on Black women’s hair preparation before travel!
