I think we have all had that hair cut. :P
I had hair down to the middle of my back that I donated to Locks for Love ( I grew it out for 3 years just for that purpose) - then wound up with chin length in the front, angling up to the nape of my neck in the back and stacked. Growing it out was horrible - I worked with my stylist and as it grew she just kept reshaping it until the back was long enough to cut the front to match.
I learned to clip the front and sides up in hair combs and barrettes when it all began to look scraggly.
Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and have it cut in order for it to grow out more evenly and neatly.
I now have shoulder length hair and just love it. So much more versatile.