And while I technically don't have "shaved" sides (since I used scissors) that's what it looks like, so thats what I shall call it!
So this was one major problem child:
I tried dealing with the bugger by attaching an old dread, in the hopes that added weight would make it stay DOWN, but alas, it didn't work as well as I'd hoped. See: 
So I made the decision to chop some side dreadies OFF! Plus, all these loose ear area hairs bothered me too. Yay for dealing with many annoyances at one time! 
Before shot, right side:
And the left side:
And look how super excited I am!
So that's five dreads, cut and combed out!
Woohoo! One side! 
Two side! 
And sick face! YAAAY. 
Also, I was part of the Vagina Monologues at my college, so yay! This was my Vagina Warrior portrait! I'm amazed at how much more "neat" my relatively "messy" hair looks sans those five dreads. Granted, those few stuck out on the side of my head much more, probably due to ponytails and the like....
Anyway, I'm really pleased with the short sides! My glasses slip right on, without getting stuck in loops, and less hair gets stuck on either tragus piercing... Generally VERY pleased! My hair also lies far flatter, which looks different, surprisingly. I was surprised about how such a little change made so many differences!
Okay, I edited, added more "before" pictures, and also, I have my nape pierced, right?
Well my neck hairs can be mighty disruptive. When they're loose, they get tangled around. But when I've sewn in loose hairs, loops or whatnot pull at it too! Any ideas? Or hope for the future, for those of you with the same piercing? I won't have to choose one or the other, will I? 