Length Isn't Everything

I had a family member ask me recently, "Why in the world, when black women are fighting for every last inch of hair length, would you cut your hair."

 At the time I tried to explain that I was "going natural" in many aspects of my life. I also pointed out that the length I had before wasn't healthy. After he left...as so often happens to me...I came up with the most concise and accurate answer: Going natural isn't as much about a hairstyle as it is about a lifestyle.

When I began this journey I had a lot of reasons: money, ease, living clean and chemical free, rejecting media controlled standards of beauty and exploring my identity as a black woman in America.  The one reason that kept me from doing it for a long time was...well...I was fighting for every last inch of hair length.  I knew going natural would eventually result in my having to cut off my relaxed hair.  I tried to hold on to as much length as possible by transitioning, but that didn't last.  When I finally did my big chop I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the short hair.

So here's my question: Why have we equated long hair with beauty?  There are countless blogs, charts, products and videos all geared towards the goal of long hair.  So many naturalistas set length goals for themselves.  My goal is healthy hair.  If my healthy hair also happens to be long hair, so be it, but I'll be beautiful regardless.