L.K.
I'm 49 years old and it took me until roughly the age of 40 to accept my waves and curls!
In my opinion, you can take all the pictures you want to a stylist, but unless they are used to cutting curly/wavy hair it will be a mess! I finally found a stylist, who has turned into a great friend and I love my hair. Literally I blow dry my 'bangs' to make them a little more manageable, apply some hair product, (my favorite is John Frieda's Dream Curls) scrunch and go! And if I'm traveling or some place it really doesn't matter, I seriously can just scrunch everything and it looks great.
Again, in my opinion, why try to be something your not? Be and accept you for all the goodness you have to offer! IF my husband "loves" someones straight hair, he obviously is smart enough NOT to voice that opinion. And since we've been together 25 years, I'm guessing he really doesn't care or notice the straight hair.