30 Years After 'The Rachel', Jennifer Aniston Is Still Our Hair Icon - Here's Her 50 Best Hairstyles
It's been 30 (!) years since Jennifer Aniston introduced us to The Rachel, a choppy, layered haircut sported by her Friends character in 1995. To this day, she continues to inspire many hair transformation through the many looks she's sported throughout her impressive career. From conquering our screens in beloved rom-coms such as Bruce Almighty and Murder Mystery to delivering a stellar performance in The Morning Show (it earned her multiple Golden Globe nominations), Aniston remains one of the most revered actors and style icons of our time.
How to get Jennifer Aniston's hair colour
Her penchant for classic, understated silhouettes mirrors her beauty approach, which is often laid-back and fresh, but always polished and undoubtedly her. 'Jennifer's hair strikes the perfect balance between natural-looking and just that bit more special,' agrees hairstylist Tom Smith, who still gets plenty of clients referencing her look.
'The intricacy of the finely woven colour reads expensive and time-consuming, which sends messages that she is well put together and refined, while the styling shows off the health of her hair and is relaxed enough to look youthful; glossy enough to "wow". It's all about balance and she has the formula down, says Smith. Aniston's been spotted wearing her hair in varying shades of brunette and blonde, but Smith shares that his clients tend to favour Aniston's dark blonde and light brown eras, and when the length is longer.
According to Smith, Aniston's hairstyle works best for those who prefer to look natural but elevated, and her specific hair colour can add warmth to those whose closet veer towards earthy and muted tones.
How Jennifer Aniston styles her hair
As for what we can takeaway from Aniston's signature style? It's about finding the best cut and colour combination that suits you from the off (with little styling) and maintaining that as your base line. It varies everyone, but it is undoubtedly something that you feel your happiest and most comfortable in - whether that's layered or in a '90s chignon ala Aniston, or something completely different.
'You can play around with it a bit to evolve over the seasons and throughout the years by brightening, deepening, shortening or lengthening gradually and subtly, rather than bit dramatic chops,' says Smith. 'In my experience working with those in the public eye, it can often feel safer for them to keep a consistent look and evolve it gradually, rather than making statements with dramatic changes that are likely to garner stronger and more divisive attention.'
Ahead, a look at Jennifer Aniston's hair evolution throughout the years
June 19, 1990
Aniston as Jeannie Bueller, never forget.
January 6, 1992
When you're ambivalent about your new bangs.
June 15, 1994
Before the layered haircut, Aniston experimented with voluminous curls.
1995
'I think it was the ugliest haircut I've ever seen,' Aniston said in an interview of Rachel Green's polarising hairstyle.
January 1, 1995
'It was a really fun cut and different to anything else around at the time. It was an easy cut, but it needed regular trims to keep the layers looking sharp,' says hair stylist Chris McMillan of his famous 'Rachel' cut in an interview.
June 4, 1995
According to her longtime stylist Chris McMillan, the Rachel was a high maintenance style. It required a blow-dry with a round brush to achieve the flicks.
1996
Aniston straightens her layers through the growing out phase.
July 19, 1997
Aniston gives her blow dryer a break for the premiere of Picture Perfect.
July 23, 1997
Here, a sleek chignon to celebrate her Cosmopolitan cover.
April 9, 1998
Prom ringlets at the premiere of The Object Of My Affection.
April 15, 1998
Butterfly clips galore.
September 12, 1999
Fresh-off-the-beach vibes.
October 23, 1999
The beachy wave look continues, this time with a lighter hand.
March 26, 2000
Hair extensions are actual magic.
December 11, 2000
A layered bob, but make it wavy.
January 7, 2001
Aniston at the People's Choice Awards with a blunt bob .
November 19, 2001
Aniston returns to the angled look she debuted in 1996.
January 20, 2002
A classic chignon on the red carpet.
September 22, 2002
A laid-back, curly hair moment for Aniston's first Emmy win.
June 6, 2002
At the premiere of Bourne Identity with done-undone waves.
January 12, 2003
Chocolatey soft waves for a grown-up feel.
January 19, 2003
An impossibly shiny ponytail for the Golden Globe Awards.
March 9, 2003
Pin-straight hair for the SAG Awards.
January 25, 2004
Aniston experimented with long bangs.
February 18, 2004
An easy bun for the London premiere on Along Came Polly.
September 19, 2004
An Aniston mainstay for the Emmy Awards, California beach waves.
March 5, 2006
The OG of face-framing layers returns to one of her signature looks.
March 27, 2006
Proof that a high ponytail doesn't have to be boring. Aniston wears a tousled matte rendition.
May 21, 2006
Beach waves make a comeback on the red carpet for The Breakup.
February 2, 2009
A long ponytail with asymmetrical bangs.
February 22, 2009
For advanced bangs camouflage-ery, a French-braid band along the hairline.
January 17, 2010
Aniston wears a tumble of honey-blonde layers for a Late Night With Jimmy Fallon appearance.
November 18, 2010
Longer-than-usual layers for her turn in Wanderlust.
May 5, 2011
The actress lightens up and loses some length.
July 20, 2011
'The Rachel' makes a 2011 comeback.
January 28, 2012
Aniston goes longer and darker for winter.
August 14, 2013
Windswept texture for a We're The Millers red carpet appearance.
January 14, 2014
This seemingly effortless ponytail proves the importance of placement.
May 9, 2014
A brief brunette moment.
November 20, 2014
Aniston lightens up again.
January 11, 2015
A polished, doughnut-bun.
January 24, 2015
The ultimate gold-spun beach blonde.
April 15, 2016
Sun-kissed and sleek.
July 2016
Aniston loves a textured, beachy updo and we're here for it.
April 5, 2017
Aniston debuts subdued chestnut waves.
February 2017
This dark bronzey-blonde remains one of our firm favourites.
January 2020
Wavy, layered lengths and a middle parting for a Golden Globes red carpet.
January 2024
This long, wavy bob cements Aniston's short hair era.
June 2024
This clean-cut bob feels preppy and embraces her penchant for sleek strands.
September 2024
Cool, silvery undertones bring out the blues of Aniston's eyes and enhances her sun-kissed tan.
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