5 year old DD started hair chewing

[Pumpkinette]

My 5 year old DD has started chewing her hair a couple of months ago. I feel like every time I turn round she has a piece of hair in her mouth. I'm thinking of getting her hair cut short to stop her doing it but I know she will be upset by this as she really wants long hair like her friends.

Her hair is quite fine and has taken a long time to grow. (Only just past shoulder length after 5 years). I am kind of loathed to cut it as I would take forever to grow back. I did think perhaps the threat of cutting it short might work but I don't want to threaten something and not follow through with it if she doesn't stop.

I have noticed the bits she chews are now shorter than the rest of her hair by about 1 1/2 - 2 inches - her hair used to be all the same length so I'm sure she's chewed it off. She has also taken to pulling out her pony tail or pleats in school so she can chew her hair.

Any ideas?
How can I stop the hair chewing?

Cutting it short would be last resort so willing to try out any other ideas first.

Mine is the same, and managed to not only chew off a whole chunk on one side but also had sucked it so much that the hair was brittle and weak and just kept breaking off. Interestingly my DD's hair also grows very slowly and although it is halfway down her back has never actually been cut - only trimmed - and she is almost 8. Friends of hers who had short hair until they were 5 now have waist length hair.

The only way round the chewing is to put the hair up in a style she can't take out. We found the fashion for buns a little while ago very useful. Also either coat it in leave-in conditioner or spray it with hairspray/ hair defender to make it taste nasty.

I think I will try the leave in spray idea first. I'm sure I have a bottle of foul smelling 'nit repellant' leave in spray I bought I while back for her starting school. (Used it on her once but I hated the smell)

The problem with tying it back in a bun is the front hair that she's chewed is now too short for ponytail. It's long enough for bunches as they are on the side if her head. I tend to do bunches or two french plaits - not sure if two small buns would work?

I think I'll head over to Pinterest to see if I can find some alternative hair styles for her.