I know this is no help at all, but I've got VERY curly hair. I leave it at, or a little past, my shoulders. (Much longer when wet) Short hair = Bozo the clown. Boy short hair = Q-tip head. Both looks are to be avoided.
Good news, curly hair is all interlocked together. So I put my helmet on, push everything towards the back and I never hear from it or see it again. People always know its me. I always hear "was that you riding on such and such road yesterday? I saw a helmet and a lot of curly hair sticking out" Yeah. It's always me.