Roles and Authority

1 Corinthians 11:13-16    
13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

In the time and place of the church at Corinth, Paul had to enforce the authority structure with the outward appearance of hair and other head coverings as reminders.  It was not a command for the hair here, but what it represents for the roles and authority God has placed us in as men and women under Christ.  In the end, the form was negotiable, but not the heart attitude and actions these were to symbolize and teach in practical ways.  This is seen when he tells them it is not a custom to parade around and thereby cause dissension.  As it is written, let all things be done decently and in order.