Oh yes, let us go there! For over twenty years, many of my Christian family members have cited six Scriptures as proof of God's disapproval of women wearing Afros and Hairlocks. They have linked Afros with short hair, Hairlocks with braided hair, and have cited I Corinthians 11:15-16, I Timothy 2:9-10, and I Peter 3:3-4 as Godly proof against women wearing Afros and Hairlocks. Have my Christian family members misunderstood God's Word about women wearing Afros and Hairlocks? Yes! Let us briefly revisit those Scriptures to determine correct interpretation.

I Corinthians 11:15(King James Version or KJV) reads as follows:


Question: does God, through Paul, write this Scripture to command women to wear long hair? No! Paul writes this scripture to describe the cultural attitude or custom about long hair. In modern language, one can paraphrase I Corinthians 11:15 as follows:

According to your culture or custom, if a women has long hair, it beautifies and benefits her. Given as a covering, her hair helps express her femininity, her willing acceptance of her complementary role in marriage, and her worship and praise of God.

I Corinthians 11:15 does not represent a Godly command for women to wear long hair, but Paul's description and explanation of women's cultural or customary practice of wearing long hair. I Corinthians 11:16(KJV) further clarifies and supports this position. I Corinthians 11:16 states as follows:


The phrase "we have no such custom" in verse 16 refers to the action in verse 15. In verse 15, Paul describes a woman receiving glory if she wears long hair. In verse 16, Paul states his followers and churches of God as having "no such custom". Together, verses 15 and 16 describe Paul as equating a woman wearing long hair with a custom, a custom not found among his followers and churches of God. Verse 15 describes the cultural or customary practice of women wearing long hair, not the Godly command to do so. In verses 15 and 16, God does not command women to wear long hair. If He does, Paul would have found the practice among his followers and would have advocated the practice for the churches of God. Since Paul does not, women, especially Christian women, should not experience any guilt for wearing Afros or any other short hairstyle.

Paul further addresses similar hairstyle matters in one of his letters to Timothy. I Timothy 2:9-10(KJV) read as follows:

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness, and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But with good works.

A quick first reading of verses 9 and 10 would suggest women not to look attractive or not to wear braided hairstyles, jewelry, and expensive clothing. These verses, however, do not urge women to not adorn themselves but to change how they adorn themselves. In no terms do verses 9 and 10 suggest women make themselves unattractive or to not wear braids, gold, pearls, and expensive clothing. They do not convict women of wrongdoing for wearing braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing. Verses 9 and 10, however, do qualify how women should wear attire and display genuine beauty. They urge women to wear attire free of showiness(modest), not excessive or extreme(modest), appropriate and judicious(shamefacedness and sobriety). The also instruct women to display a better beauty, one made genuine from doing good deeds, instead of one based on wearing attire.

Does wearing Hairlocks violate Timothy's urging of woman to dress modestly, simple, appropriate, and judiciously? No! Hairlocks, a permanent type of braid created by hair strands interwoven together, take on the same restrictions as braided hairstyles. Since verses 9 and 10 in no terms prohibit women from wearing braided hair, they do not prohibit women from wearing Hairlocks. Hairlocks reveal an appearance harmonious with Timothy's urging. Especially when created and maintained according to the Sisterlocks Natural Hair Management System, Hairlocks reveal a simple, moderate, and judicious appearance.

I Peter 3:3-4(KJV) further illuminates and supports this position. They read as follows:

Whose adorning let it not be that outward of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Like Timothy, Peter also does not instruct women to not braid their hair, wear gold, or expensive clothing. Peter exhorts women to not consider outer attire as the source of genuine beauty. He wants women to adorn themselves with beauty based on great qualities, not solely on great attire. Why? Two reason. One, great qualities will never fail, disappoint, fade, or disintegrate(not corruptible) while reflecting a woman's genuine beauty. Two, God more highly values women with great qualities(e.g., a meek and quiet spirit) than with a great attire. Again, Peter does not say women should not adorn themselves with a great attire. Peter does, however, instruct women to adorn themselves with qualities more reflective of beauty God highly values.

Does wearing Hairlocks violate Peter's instructions? No, again, I Timothy 3:3-4 govern the wearing of Hairlocks like they govern the wearing of braids. Since I Timothy 3:3-4 do not restrict women from wearing braided hairstyles, they do not restrict women from wearing Hairlocks.

Wearing Afros and Hairlocks do not violate God's standards of appearance or instructions for hairstyling. Why do they violate yours?

God says so