when she was younger she looked adorable with long hair, but now that i know her better i think it just doesn't suit her personality more than anything. i think she can pull off the style you liked best really well (maybe less messy, that looks like it was after a rehearsal or something), and it would be short enough to suit her personality and her tomboy character, but also not be so unflattering.
i think at this point we're all saying variations of the same thing, though.