I wonder if the link between hair length and age is stronger in the US, I've never thought about it much or heard it mentioned here. Young Norwegian girls do tend to have longer hair than adult women, but I reckoned it was mostly a fashion thing among teenagers, and that they were the only ones that had the time to tend to waist-length hair :-) Certainly among young adults it's quite common to not have very long hair.

I have several friends who have cut their long hair and look gorgeous, it can be very flattering. I know it's tough to cut it, but I'm pretty sure you'll like it!