The Rachel is back
New year, new not-so-new cut! The 81st Golden Globe Awards kicked off on Sunday, January 7 at the Beverly Hilton, and Jennifer Aniston celebrated by bringing the nostalgia. The 54-year-old actress attended the big event wearing her hair styled like her character from Friends, Rachel Green.
Aniston gained international regard while playing Rachel in the NBC sitcom from 1994 to 2004. In the very first season, Aniston debuted a shoulder-length haircut with several layers framing and turning out from the wearer’s face that became so associated with her character, it is still known as the Rachel. Its appearance on Sunday marks a revival quite some time in the making.
Aniston stepped out onto the red carpet in a look that defined simple yet classy ’90s nostalgia. Aniston showed off her figure in a sleek strapless black dress that matched her dark nail polish, complimented by simple accessories, all finished off by the Rachel, which, after its debut in the episode “The One With the Evil Orthodontist,” became one of the most-requested hairstyles of the entire decade.
Aniston herself wasn’t so keen on the cut, originally calling it “horrible” and “the ugliest haircut I’ve ever seen.” She also disliked how hard it was to maintain.
Many, however, have taken up the challenge with enthusiasm, especially after the 2021 television special Friends: The Reunion.
Just as the Rachel has become as popular as any of the other Friends characters, it also comes with a fun backstory tied to Aniston. The hairdo was designed by Aniston’s own stylist, Chris McMillan, with coloring by Michael Canalé, for the dual purpose of growing out her bangs and repairing the damage done to her locks.
When Aniston first visited McMillan, her hair had actually been quite long and, in McMillan’s view, frizzy, and Aniston’s manager was insistent upon diving into a dramatically new style at a different length and with highlights.
McMillan drew inspiration from surfers, model Beri Smither’s bob cut, and a style worn by actress Cameron Diaz, for whom McMillan had just given a similar style.
Will you be rocking the Rachel haircut?
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