There are haircuts, there are classic haircuts and then there’s ‘The Rachel’ – in a league all on its own. If I asked you to name a hairstyle that’s been as iconic as The Rachel, I’d probably have a long wait on my hands.
Jennifer Aniston’s cult 90s hairstyle became iconic in its own right. Those choppy layers, those enviable smooth ends, the gravity-defying bounce and those seriously delicious caramel highlights might have had a *tad* to do with it. The Rachel even picked up a loyal celeb fan following from the likes of Tyra Banks, Christine Aguilera, Meg Ryan, Lily Allen, Rihanna and Jessica Alba to name a few – all showcasing their own rendition of the style.
Ironically, in an interview with Allure, Jennifer confided that she actually wasn’t a big fan of this cut at the time, as she struggled to style it in the same way as her stylist. Thankfully though, since then, advanced styling tools and an abundance of online hair tutorials have paved the way for simple at-home styling that’ll help you maintain your salon look.
25 years on, and countless styles later, Jennifer Aniston’s hair is still sought-after today. Having morphed from short and choppy to long and beautifully layered, there was still an essence of ‘The Rachel’ that lived on throughout each look.
Everyone still uses The Rachel as a reference point when looking for inspiration, whether it’s the cut, length, style or colour. So what makes Jen’s hair so covetable? Our stylists say that for starters, it’s glossy, silky and always perfectly clean. When it comes to signature styling, Jen’s red-carpet looks tend to be ‘pretty and sexy’, thanks to plenty of texture and a relaxed, undone-looking style.
Verdict: The Rachel remains an enduring pop culture reference, iconic hairstyle and a symbol of the 90s. If you know, you know.
Over to you: Which version of The Rachel would you recreate? Check out our favourite styles below and our top tips to get the look.