Straightening and/or short haircuts for thick curly hair?

I have VERY thick and VERY curly long hair. It's well conditioned and i take about an hour each day to keep it that way. I've been considering straightening my hair but i've never used a flat iron before (i've had friends do it for me once and i loved it but it only lasted half a day) and i'm afraid of the damage caused by chemical straigtening. I've also been thinking about cutting short, like ( http://www.curatoruk.com/resources/collection_images/toni_guy/avory/tim_avorymed1.jpg ) short (no i don't except to have that kinda hair i'm aware of the impossiblity), but i worried my hair will just poof into a curly fro, any suggestions or tips??