Totally chopped

I've been growing my hair out for some time with the intention of donating it to Locks of Love. A minimum of ten inches is required, and I finally had it long enough that, when I cut it, I didn't think I'd feel bald. Here's the before:

I went to the national chain that support Locks of Love instead of my normal salon. I got all set up in the chair, the girl starts looking at my hair, and then pronounces I can't donate it because it's damaged. WHAT?
I knew I had some damage from a perm, but it just amounts to a little section of hair that's short because the lady burned it. It doesn't affect all the rest of my hair.
I protested that the Locks of Love site says hair that has been permed and straightened is still acceptable if it's not fried, and my hair is clearly not fried.
The hairdresser in the next stall says only "virgin" hair qualifies for the free cut.
Huh? Free cut? Apparently that salon cuts Locks of Love donors for free. I told them I didn't care about getting the free cut, I just wanted to be able to donate.
That seemed to convince them that my hair was healthy enough to donate. So the girl puts my hair in a ponytail and shows me where she's going to cut.
Then, in typical hairdresser fashion, she moves up and addition two inches and starts whacking before I can say anything. I cringed. I've never had my hair this short. But I'm thinking, "Ok, so now Locks of Love just has that much more hair, and that's good."
But then the girl only makes like two more snips and acts like she's done. I try to remind her of the style I had in mind, but a couple more snips later I figure I better cut my losses and get out of her chair. Then, she doesn't even fix my hair - just blow dries it enough to make me look like a damp dog.
So, I have no clue how to fix this super short (for me) hair that doesn't make me look like a third grader or Donna Reed.
I thought about going to my normal place and asking them to give me some kind of cut that works better, but then it would just be shorter. I have never been able to do the style-while-blow-drying thing, and I can't really use a curling iron now without burning my neck. Here's the best I can do so far:

Of course the bad experience has nothing to do with Locks of Love, and I'd like to donate again. But next time I'll go to my normal salon and just send the hair in myself!!!