Any suggestions on what to do with my hair?

I'm a boy with dirty blond hair. It is short and doesn't cooperate with any style I try. It sticks straight up unless I use about half a tub of gel. I don't want to grow it out too long or have a Beiber-bowl. Until now, I've had a buzz-cut, but that only looks good if I can keep buzzing it before it grows out at all. I dislike using gel. I don't want my hair to cover my ears or my eyebrows.Any suggestions on what I can do or how I can style it so it will cooperate and not stick straight up? Thank you.