Literally hate my hair

I feel so uninspired with my current hair. I don't have much length though, so I feel like if I go to a salon they'll just shrug and tell me it is what it is. Dream hair on second and third pics, I just don't know if it's actually doable for me? Any thoughts? I'm also growing out a perm, so I don't naturally have curls, but my hair holds a perm for a while.