I don’t think historically Jews had long peyos. Look at the painting and photos of gedolim in Europe from pre-Holocaust eras. Often the hair from the entire head was longer (but much shorter than shoulder length) peyos included. But certainly, long (curly) payos and shaven heads were not the norm. It was bought in by the Chassidim in the later years, I’m not even sure if they went like that in Europe bechlal. I know Galicianer wore long peyos in the early 1900 but I don’t know if they shaved their head, there were no shavers then in any case, they probably wore their hair very short.
Also in Taimoni wore long curly payos but most don’t do so now only those who drei zich in to he Chassidishe world.