Lots of people use just a front partial and put it in front of their existing hair.
My feeling is, use as much of your natural hair as possible.

I would definitely insist on trying it your way first.
You might not take to wearing and decide its not for you.
Doing it your way means that you've not shaved off any of your own hair and can go back to how you were with no problems.

Here are a few threads that might help:
http://forum.toplace.com/showthread.php?...nt+partial
http://forum.toplace.com/showthread.php?...nt+partial
http://forum.toplace.com/showthread.php?...nt+partial
http://forum.toplace.com/showthread.php?...nt+partial