Jennifer Aniston is revealing the truth behind her most iconic hairstyle.
While speaking with Elle as a 2025 Women in Hollywood honoree, the Morning Show actress, 56, reflected on the choppy, shoulder-length hairstyle — dubbed “the Rachel” — that she famously wore as her character Rachel Green on the ’90s sitcom Friends.
Aniston expressed similar sentiments when speaking with Marie Clare in 2013, telling the outlet then that “‘The Rachel’ was … horrible and … high maintenance.”
Courtesy of hairstylist Chris McMillan, “the Rachel”‘s influence has endured for decades but Aniston jokes that in reality, the style was short-lived.
“It had a beautiful six months that’s lasted 30 years,” she told the outlet.
Aniston also shared that of all the characters she’s played, she’s most like Rachel. “Except my family had no money growing up,” she clarified, “and she did.”
The star added: “I want to be like Alex [Levy, her character on The Morning Show]. I love her! Not that I want to be a mean, badass bitch, but there’s something about it. It’s fun to yell and tell someone off.”
Aniston has long spoken out about her disdain for her famous haircut.
In 2011, she told Allure that despite her working relationship and friendship with McMillan, he was “the bane of my existence because he started that damn Rachel, which was not my best look.”
The actress added, “‘How do I say this? I think it was the ugliest haircut I’ve ever seen.'”
She also shared that the style “took three brushes” and was “like doing surgery,” adding, “I’d curse Chris every time I had to blow-dry.”
Despite her feelings on “the Rachel,” Aniston recently put a fresh spin on the cut. On Monday, Sept. 8, the actress was spotted in New York City with a new look just in time for fall. The star’s highlighted brunette hair appeared to feature several layers and slightly curled ends, harkening back to her iconic Friends style.
Aniston paired her fresh cut with a black satin midi dress and a fitted black blazer, which she accessorized with orange-tinted aviator sunglasses and the Aupen Nova bag in black.
