When Friends debuted in the early '90s, there was one unexpected breakout star: Jennifer Aniston's haircut, also known as "The Rachel." It was one of the most popular styles of the decade, and while many fans and famous faces adopted the 'do, Aniston wasn't the biggest fan of it herself for one very particular reason. Read on to discover the one thing that Aniston said she didn't like about her iconic haircut, and for more on her latest look, check out Jennifer Aniston Shows Off Her New Hairstyle as She Heads Back to Work.
"The Rachel" was hard for Aniston to style.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for InStyleAt the InStyle Awards in 2018, Aniston gave the Hairstylist of the Year Award to her longtime stylist and friend Chris McMillan. During her speech, she heaped praise on the hairstylist, who she's clearly a fan of after working with him for nearly 30 years. As Aniston discussed one of McMillan's most famous hairstyles, "The Rachel," she casually mentioned that at the end of the day, it caused her some strife.
“I was left totally left with this Greek, frizzy mop on my head because I had no idea how to do what he did," Aniston said. "No one seems to know how to do what Chris does." And for more on this beloved star, find out why Jennifer Aniston Said This Was Her Most Embarrassing Moment.
Aniston revealed McMillan was under the influence when he created "The Rachel."
Warner Bros. Television Distribution via YouTubeThis wasn't the first time Aniston spoke about her difficulties with the iconic haircut. On The Graham Norton Show in 2014, Aniston talked about how the creative hairdo was a struggle for her to maintain, but thankfully, it only lasted through the first season of Friends. "It was h*** for you to do that," host Graham Norton said of the look. "It was," Aniston confirmed.
"[McMillan] was loaded when he gave me the haircut," she added, which made Norton and the audience burst into laughter. "Stoned out of his mind. This is true."
"He didn’t think about, ‘Oh, like, she’s going to have to do this herself.' 'I’m having a great time being creative with this blowdryer,'" Aniston said. "And then leaves me with a brown brush and a hairdryer. I don’t know how to make it like that!" And for more about her hit sitcom, check out how Cole Sprouse Said Jennifer Aniston Made His "Friends" Role "Quite Difficult."
But Aniston and McMillan truly love working together.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for InStyleDespite her struggles to replicate "The Rachel" magic, McMillan and Aniston have now been working together for decades and they have a true friendship. In her InStyle speech, Aniston also emphasized how much McMillan affected her life. “He’ll make you think about the world. He’ll inspire you to be grateful," Aniston said. "He’ll inspire you to see someone else’s point of view. And I sometimes wonder if Chris is more of an undercover healer than a hairdresser. He just makes everyone feel better, as much as looks better.” And for more entertainment news sent to you directly, sign up for our newsletter.
And the two of them are now back on set together again.
Jennifer Aniston/InstagramOn Jan. 26, Aniston posted a photo on Instagram of her getting ready to shoot Season 2 of The Morning Show, and McMillan was right there with her. In the photo, she showed off her newest hairstyle, which is a slightly lighter blonde style than what she previously sported. She captioned the post, "Aand, we're back...," and got tons of excited comments from fellow A-listers, including Friends alum, Courteney Cox. For more on Aniston's memorable career, Relive Jennifer Aniston's Years in Hollywood, in Photos.
