StoryInColor
1990s-present

Chris McMillan

The stylist behind the most-requested cut of the 1990s

Chris McMillan cut the most-copied hairstyle of the decade. The Rachel, named after Jennifer Aniston's character on Friends, was a layered shoulder-length cut with face-framing pieces that ran through the show's first two seasons and into salons worldwide. McMillan kept working with Aniston for decades and continues to style a long list of high-profile clients, but the Rachel remains his cultural shorthand.

See Chris McMillan’s signature cuts on your own face

Upload one selfie and Hairstyle Analysis renders eight cuts directly on your face, including the kind of layered, fringed, and wave-led shapes Chris McMillan is known for. Skip the guesswork about what would suit you. $4.99 one-time, no subscription.

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Signature looks

  1. The Rachel

    A heavily layered shoulder-length cut with face-framing pieces, cut to fall in deliberate movement around the face. McMillan said later that he found it difficult to style, which did nothing to stop the demand.

    Flatters an oval faceFlatters a round faceFlatters a square face

  2. Beachy long layers

    The looser, longer cut Aniston wore through most of the 2000s and 2010s, with softer face-framing and a textured, sun-touched finish. Less structured than the Rachel and far more wearable day to day.

    Flatters an oval faceFlatters a long (oblong) face

  3. Modern shag revival

    Updated versions of the layered shag McMillan has cut for a range of clients in the 2010s and 2020s, with curtain bangs and movement throughout the lengths.

    Flatters a square faceFlatters a long (oblong) face

Notable clients

  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Courteney Cox
  • Cindy Crawford
  • Reese Witherspoon

Why their work matters

The Rachel turned a sitcom haircut into one of the most documented cultural moments in hair history. Salons fielded requests for it for years, and the layered, face-framing template still influences cuts in 2020s editorial spreads. McMillan's broader influence has been to keep that approach (layered, movement-led, designed to flatter a specific face) alive across thirty years of celebrity styling.

Try Chris McMillan’s signature looks on your face

Hairstyle Analysis renders eight cuts directly onto a selfie of you, including the layered, fringed, and wave-led shapes Chris McMillan has built a career around. See which signature suits your features before you book a chair.

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$4.99 one-time, no subscription.

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