Curl enhancing cream/gels?

My hair is a mix of curly and wavy and its fluffy. I wanted either a perm or chemically straighten my hair (and my stylist says my hair can take it since I've never done anything like color or do chemical stuff) but I don't know. My mom suggested a curl cream or gel since I told her I just basically want to get up and go and not have to blow dry it since I have so much and so thick hair that it takes me almost a half hour to blow dry it (and it's only about 3" past my shoulders!) and then straighten it. If you know of a REALLY good gel or cream to make it curlier and nice curls at that, PLEASE. SHARE IT!