But I learned the hard way that only a very skilled stylist can cut my hair this length. When I get a bad haircut, it just looks awful no matter what I do with it.
True, naturally straight hair demands skilled, ACCURATE cutting by hair stylist. Just 1 millimetre difference on one side, is noticeable and gets to be a pain when the hair grows longer. An experienced stylist can see in bone straight hair, actual overall growth waves of hair emanating from the scalp which is determined by the shape of a person's head.

I didn't know it for a long time, but I have a cowlick on the top crown of my head of hair. I needed to know this because depending on how my hair falls as it grows longer and how a hairstylist cuts my hair (ie. layering, etc.), if person does it wrong, it shows a small bald spot on top of my head! I honestly thought for a time, that I was going bald.

I don't have naturally wavy hair to hide that type of error..unless I contort myself to use a curling iron at the back of head. (which I gave up years ago)

I could never cut my own hair because of the accuracy that is required for cutting. Anyway, it's a layered cut.