yes, layers are quite evil
!!! I am in the same predicament. Synthia hit it right on the nail, a sexy messy pin-up is pretty much the only thing i can do to my hair at this point and has been my staple style pretty much all of this year.
thankfully, my hair is relatively healthy and growing out good in the top, so they come out looking pretty decent. I pin-up normally after doing a roller set with loose curls. Also, sometimes at night i roll my hair up if it want it curlier. I just finger comb in the morning and pin up the hair in the back. the fuller it is, the better it looks to me (but i am hooked on big hair)
its odd, but when i wear my hair like this, people assume that my hair is long underneath and i've even been asked if i have weave
erplexed
Good luck on ur hair journey
With time and a little TLC, i'm sure u'll reach ur goals