Natural Curly to about Shoulder Length?

I have 'weird' hair. I have perfect hair when I get out of the shower, it lays flat on my head, and straight. It also looks great. When my hair dries however, it tends to curl up about halfway and then it decides to go straight, making my head look like its about 2 inches bigger all around than it is, and it also gives off the illusion that I have a lopsided head. My hair also is wavy on top, which I do not like. Im extremely close to just shaving it all off and keeping it short, but I would really like to have a stlye like the person below.

Ive been eying a style like this


But it just won't seem to get like that. My hair also likes to curl in the front, which is very annoying. Do you nice people here have any help to offer? Leaving it like it is now is not an option, and I also don't have hundreds of dollars to spend. :/ Any help is appreciated, and im off to bed now.


Edited by Trent