Afro-haired female in Europe wants to go short and FUnkY!

I`m a college student living in Dublin w/ shoulder-length afro-hair. It is quite coarse and has a thick appearance. Many people have commented me on my hair as I have been blessed with strong, beautiful afro-hair. My issue, though, is that I have an absolute yen to cut my long hair,short, and create a spiky, funky look. I am reluctant to go forward due to fear that my hair won`t grow back to it`s original length;there aren`t any professional afro-stylists which I have come across here and am wondering if a European professional hairstylist would be safe;my hair is due for relaxing; and my mom is completely emotionally attached to my hair. I have not voiced this decision to her as I infer her response would be `no! I feel that it would be more manageable short however, what products would mantain this style? I also have a square face.

Thanks for hearing me out,
Pippa!