What is The
Layered Choppy Bob aka 'The Rachel'
What would become known as the 'Rachel Haircut', this piece-y layered bob sported by the character in season two of the series, is known for its volume and choppy layers.
Designed by Aniston's hairstylist Chris McMillan to repair her damaged hair and grow out her bangs, "The Rachel" is a voluminous shoulder-length haircut, with several distinct layers that frame and turn outwards from its wearer's face. It has been described as a variation on both the shag and bob haircuts.
The Modern 'Rachel' Style
While the original Rachel cut was much shorter (shoulder-length) and styled with maximum volume and hairspray, the modern version is slightly longer, softer, and has more movement, says hairstylist Luke Williams. However, it still adopts the face-framing flick from its predecessor.
“This haircut will be most flattering on oval and square-shaped faces because of how the layers frame and sculpt the face," he explains, adding that it also works well on hair types 2-4.
'The Rachel was one of the hardest hairstyles to maintain,' she told ABC News, 'me and the blow-dryer and the hairbrush weren't meant for each other. It really was a hairdo. ' 'WhenChris McMillan,' - the hair stylist who gave Jen her makeover - 'would style it, my hair would be great, it would look gorgeous.
The Rachel
Even though '90s-inspired haircuts are having a moment, if you have fine hair, Blake recommends avoiding haircuts like "the Rachel," which tend to have flicky layers through the lengths of the hair. "Fine hair just can't flick at the ends as easily, and so this haircut will just looked wilted," he says.
The 'Rachel haircut' is back in all its '90s glory. The voluminous shoulder-length style with long layers was popularised in the '90s after Jennifer Anniston's character Rachel Green in hit US TV show Friends.
It's highly unlikely that a good hair salon won't have heard of the new Rachel Green but make sure you ask for long flippy layers that frame your face, a middle parting, and curtain bangs as these are the defining features of the style.
“The Rachel” is one of the most iconic hairstyles of the late 90s. It is a bob haircut with layers to add more volume and some blonde highlights to frame the face.
With face-framing layers that resemble a butterfly's wings, this haircut was one of the top breakout trends of the year.
The Rachel haircut, made famous by Jennifer Aniston's character on the hit TV show Friends in the 90s, has remained a beloved and iconic hairstyle for decades. Despite being nearly 30 years old, the Rachel haircut continues to be popular and relevant in 2023.
A butterfly haircut combines short layers with long layers to give your hair dimension, movement and body. The short, wispy layers hit around the chin to frame your face, highlight your features and even contour a round face shape.
Best: The Rachel
Rachel's iconic cut was highlighted to perfection thereby accentuating her best features. Though she kept experimenting with her hair throughout the show's 10-season run, nothing could compare to this one.
Be Specific With What You Want
Make sure you always tell your hairstylist specific things. For example, don't just say you want your hair short. Tell your stylist you want a 2 on the sides and an inch off the top. Once you give specifics to your stylist, it becomes much easier to give you a great cut.
Referred by many as a modern take on the popular 90s Rachel hairstyle, the octopus haircut incorporates curtain bangs that typically go right below your ears (although they can be shorter, depending on what is most flattering on you) and the final result is a long shag haircut with a flawless grungy touch.
Not only did she actually hate “the Rachel” haircut that launched a million copycats (she called it “a pain in the butt” to maintain, because of her naturally thick, wavy texture—relatable!) she actually prefers her hair straight.
If you ask your barber for a number one cut, you are asking them to cut your hair so it is an eighth of an inch long. If you ask for a number eight cut, the hair left on your head will be one inch.
"The real reason I cut my hair? My real hair was getting thinned out again from all the extensions," she explained of the chin-skimming chop. "It was starting to look fake."
"If you have thin hair, you'll want to keep the ends blunt instead of feathering them," Shakir suggests. "This gives the look of density and thickness." "Overlayering and too much texture can make fine hair look thin and limp," Marjan says, agreeing with Shakir. "Blunt cuts make the ends appear fuller and healthier."
Layers can be a disservice to thin hair because taking away hair from the longest length can leave this section looking sparse and straggly. This isn't always the case and some people simply prefer a layer so they can add more volume to the style.
Long layers are a great choice for thin hair because they keep most of your hair's thickness intact while offering some movement around the face.