Interesting: Actually where I grew up (Bobov), it’s customary to where payos on the outside curled meeting the collar bone. It is hiddur mitzva to walk with payos unabashed and not afraid of anyone.
The way I see it and many others agree with me: thatsince people work in industries that don’t know jews nor their payos minhag, hiding is the right thing to do. I happen to agree with this unless the individual get away with it.
I had the curled payos when I got married but put it behind the ears due to my leaving kolel and starting to work for fortune 500 company.
I guess another perspective. Btw, On Shaboss and Yom Tov, I would curl back my payos.