Squeky, I am feeling you exactly. My hair is curly/wavy and when I do put in a perm its to get the curliness out. But right now my hair is about a inch long all around andI just wash it everyday and through some conditioner and a tad bit of gel in it. It is so much easier than any hairstyle I've ever had.
I might let my hair grow out and I might get a perm, but I never got a perm to look or be white. It was mianly just because my hair is soo curly that it gets frizzy really easy and with out a perm I find myself with this big bush by the end of the day when it is humid outside. And when I o to a club, I look rediculous after I start sweating.
Right now though I'm really feeling this short look and I finally ddidn't get carded once

So I might keep it for a while