Written by Joshua
19 Mar 2025
There are some things in life that you virtually can’t live without, and other things you could, but wouldn’t want to. Thankfully, Sweden has been good to me when it comes to finding those things. From hair to my favourite foods, I’ve been able to find everything that I need to survive, and thrive in Stockholm, and in today’s blog, I’m going to share some of those gems with you.
Taj Mahal African and Asian store
Let me paint a picture for you 🥰. It was a strangely sunny afternoon in Stockholm in October last year. My Jamaican friend, and fellow digital ambassador Kai-Lin and I decided to go for a walk down to Odenplan. After strolling through the park by the observatory, we wondered into the city centre looking for something to eat. As we walked, we were just looking for something that piqued our interest, and when I looked around one of the corners, I saw the name Taj Mahal Afro-Asian store. Something was telling me to go in, I really don’t know why. Maybe I wanted to prove them wrong. I’d go in and say, “This isn’t African food, these people don’t know the first thing that they’re talking about.” Well, long story short, those people did know what they were talking about, and my face in the pictures is a testament to that 😅.
From plantains, to saltfish, to hominy corn, to Milo, to JAMAICAN ACKEE AND CALLALOO, this store had it all 😭. For the first time since I had come to Stockholm, I felt seen. There were people here before me, buying these same products. I wasn’t the first, and I wouldn’t be the last. Even though I didn’t see them, I was now excited to meet the Caribbean Swedes that I never knew existed until then 🥹.
Natural Hair Products
For some of you, this one may or may not be applicable. For that reason, I’m going to ask all the natural queens and kings to step to the front 😂. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be able to find my hair products in Sweden. Brands like As I Am, Design Essentials, Camille Rose, Mielle Organics, or tgin are not brands you find on your average shelf in Sweden. However, I’m delighted to share the offering of not 1, but 2 stores who fill that gap:
1. Vison’s Butik & beauty parlour – located in Slussen, this store has been run by Vivat Arvidsson for almost 30 years. She’s such a sweet soul, and guess what? Turns out her daughter is Jamaican 😏. She has a wide array of hair and beauty products, and her doors are open anytime you need help. Check out the store’s Instagram here, and be sure to visit!
2. TajMahal Hair and Beauty – TajMahal strikes again. Not only do they have a grocery store, they have one dedicated to selling black beauty supplies! Let me tell you, this place has really exceeded my expectations. They have everything you could possibly need for black hair in Sweden. A bonus is that they’re literally next door to their grocery store 😄! Their Instagram is also very active, and they’re always willing and open to help.
The barber
For black men, a barber can be your most faithful advisor, one of your most closely guarded secrets, or one of the few people that you trust with your life. Once you find a good one, you almost never let go. So, naturally, I was a bit daunted by the task of finding someone who could help me maintain my closely guarded image as a strong, independent, black man living in the big city 😂.
Finding someone who could fill this pivotal role wasn’t simple. I asked a few people I knew, and let’s just say, the recommendations I got were just a little bit outside of my price range. Considering that I started with options in the region of 600 SEK, I’m pleased to say that Ali, from Southside barbers came in clutch, proving to be the man for the job for only 250 SEK. His work speaks for itself, and I’m so grateful to have found him.
Pro tip: I found Ali on the Fresha app. Fresha is an all-in-one personal care booking app with thousands of stylists and professionals from across the globe. It allows you to book all your beauty and wellness appointments, view examples and testimonials of the work that someone has done, and gives you details about the pricing of their services all in one place.
Photofun
Photofun is a store that allows you to print your favourite pictures. Now, I know this one may seem strange, but let me be clear, you would be amazed at the difference that having pictures of your close family and friends in your surroundings has on you. I’ve talked about it before, but again, I would highly recommend visiting this store, even if it’s just to print one picture. Bonus is, nobody is rushing you, you can complete the process all by yourself, and the prices aren’t half bad either!
I hope this blog post really helped someone. I can’t comprehend how different my life in Stockholm would’ve been without all these places, and I think you’ll find enjoyment in them too 🥹!
