How to wear Naturally parted hair straight?

I have a natural part right to left and I hate it.  Nobody wears their hair with a part anymore..  I want to try and wear it just straight all the way around, but it is difficult.  It looks better when it is longer and I can hide the part kind of, but then My hair gets real poofy on the sides and my girlfriend just recently tried to shorten the sides and leave the top long as to hide the part but It was a disaster.. any suggestions on how to wear my hair properly?  Also, hair is very thick and wavy.. I straighten it when it gets long to try and achieve this straight hair and hide part..  Any help would be greatly appriciated..