My hair!

Hi, I`m not african american, but I have wavy/curly/poofy hair. I was thinking of getting my hair relaxed or permed so it can be straight. I don`t know the difference between relaxing and perming hair. I want to use the one that it the gentlest because my hair isn`t nappy or really curly. I just want it to be straighter than it is now and I don`t like to blow dry or use a hair iron. If I perm or relax my hair, will it change the texture of it? My hair is very soft and bouncy, and will I lose that if I relax or perm my hair? I want a permanent solution to get straight hair, so does the perm or relax wash out when I wash my hair? Thanks very much.