First off, let me address the context of the passage of 1 Corinthians 11. In Paul’s letters, we see that he is addressing some questions or spiritual needs of a group of Christians. Something has been brought to his attention from these Christians and he’s chosen–or has been made–to address them in a letter instead of in person. Paul, in the first part of this chapter, describes the hierarchical relationships that exist among all souls. This leads to a discussion of a head covering–in this case, hair–and its use in authority. Also, let me say that this passage has caused a lot of questions. Many have said that it only applies to the Corinthian man and woman at that time. Women were expected to keep their heads covered then. These same will say that, because Paul was writing to these people, women do not necessarily have to have their heads covered today.
Others will say that Paul is using universal statements to describe why a woman should cover her head. By “universal” I mean that it goes all the way back to the beginning of time. Woman was created for man and not the other way around. And, since Paul uses such universal reasoning, these same people will say that it applies the same as the plan of salvation. It is still in effect and will be until the end of the Christian age, which is the end of the world.
Let me try to address your question. The man, being made in the image of God, should not cover his head. The woman, however, being made from man, is the image of man. She should keep her head covered when praying or prophesying. Paul, however, does continue on to say that one is not without the other. Man relies on woman, as well. (v. 12) We were all born by the seed of a man and the egg of a woman. We were all nurtured in our mothers’ wombs. He wants to make this point seemingly to point out that man is not so powerful that he could exist without a woman. We’re told to honor and obey BOTH of our parents–not just our fathers! (Eph 6:2) However, man or woman, we are to obey God for we are ALL God’s creatures.
In verses 5 and 6, Paul clearly states that if a woman were to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered she dishonors her head. When he says, “For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn,” he’s saying that, because being uncovered is a dishonor, she might as well be shaven or shorn! They all bring the same dishonor to the woman’s head.
Paul then continues to address other reasons for a woman to have her head covered. Paul states that nature shows us that a woman should have long hair and a man should have short hair. They don’t call it male-pattern baldness without a reason! Typically, a woman’s hair tends to grow longer more quickly and to also look better long than a man’s hair would. A man’s hair usually looks better short. We see this in almost every culture. God gave long hair to the woman as a covering.
Ultimately, however, Paul concludes this thought in verse 16. Despite all Paul has said previously, he sums it up by saying that if anyone is going to be contentious, or argumentative, there is no such custom in Christ’s church. Essentially, there is no binding of God concerning hair length.
This final verse has been a point of much contention. Why would Paul spend so much time saying that women should have their head covered (hair being the necessary covering) and men should have theirs uncovered only to say that, in the end, it doesn’t matter? The New American Standard Bible goes so far as to translate the “such” as “other” in verse 16 so that it reads, “But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.” However, in the NASB, the word “other” has a footnote saying, “Lit., such” where “Lit.” stands for “a literal translation.” Basically, literally translated that word means, “such.” The Greek word is τοιοῦτος / toioutos (toy-oo’-tos). From Strong’s definitions, this means, “truly this, that is, of this sort (to denote character or individuality): – like, such (an one).”
It does sound as if Paul is saying that hair length is not binding one way or the other. But he does give a LOT of reasoning behind why women should keep their hair long and men should keep their hair short. All things considered, it is certainly okay for a woman to have long hair and for a man to have short hair. Do you really want to risk God’s judgment and do the opposite of what “nature itself teaches you?”