My wife’s has never been below shoulder length so I have no experience. She’s telling me she had it longer but before me, that’s 25 years. Lol.

curly hair is a bitch, it just grows so slowly

TRUE. I’'ve only got wavy hair and not tight curls like you, hair takes forever to grow under normal circumstances, let alone when half the length is lost to every curl(And that good hair days require insane amounts of product and perfect conditions lol). Don’t cut it unless you want to!