Modern Twists On 'The Rachel' Cut You'll Want To Try In 2023 - The List (2024)

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Modern Twists On 'The Rachel' Cut You'll Want To Try In 2023

  • Beauty
  • Hair

ByDiana Kurzeja

Modern Twists On 'The Rachel' Cut You'll Want To Try In 2023 - The List (4)

Charley Gallay/Getty Images

The Rachel haircut made waves when it first debuted on the popular television show "Friends" and quickly grew to become one of the most iconic and sought-after hairstyles of the '90s.Everyone was asking for the Rachel hairstyle, with Jennifer Aniston becoming the poster girl for the trendy whispy, layered cut. Even celebrities like Rihanna, Cameron Diaz, Rachel McAdams, and Jennifer Lopez jumped on the trend. We've seen various renditions of all things '90s, from the '90s backless top fashion trend to the iconic supermodel blowout — making it clear these nostalgic looks aren't going anywhere soon.The Rachel cut defined the decade and is still being styled today, only with a modern twist.

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The original Rachel cut features face-framing layers and weightless movement, and now with a few stylish adjustments, you can sport the look too. Here are the latest renditions of the Rachel cut to copy this season.

The Wolf Cut

You've probably heard of the trendy wolf cut,which took over social media as one of the most loved edgy choppy cuts to copy. The wolf cut is a much more layered and dimensional cut that combines the shag haircut and the mullet. It's perfect for those looking for a unique, funky cut that will shake up their look. You can rock this edgy and versatile haircut on all hair types, including short, mid-length, and long hair.

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The Butterfly Cut

Do you love voluminous supermodel-like hair? If so, the butterfly cut is the perfect modern variation of the Rachel cut to try. The butterfly cut is a heavily layered, wispy haircut that reaches just slightly below the shoulder, while the shorter layers are around the head's crown.

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Teryn Tucker, a hairstylist at Alchemy Salon in Orlando, Florida, tells Allure, "If you look back to '90s glam or Rachel from Friends, you'll see the face-framing, voluminous layers that make the butterfly cut what it is."

The Midi flick

The '90s midi flick cut is a mid-length version of the Rachel cut that emphasizes volume and layers. Celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook tells Real Simple, "The hair is mid-length and has flipped-up ends that hit right on the shoulders for a retro feel." The cut is longer than a bob but doesn't typically go past much farther than the shoulders. The ends flick out, giving it a chic, voluminous look that can be easily styled.

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The Brachel

The Brachel is the Rachel cut's little sister — it's a beautiful blend of whispy Brigitte Bardot bangs, and the Rachel cut for a unique combination of layers on layers. The face-framing bangs bring a flattering emphasis to your facial features and add effortless volume, making it a go-to modern take on the infamous cut. It creates a lightweight flair that looks elegant and sophisticated, especially when styled in a blow-out. To get the most movement out of your locks, style them with a round brush and blow dryer for gorgeous volume.

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Modern Rachel with Bangs

If you want to embrace your long locks, try the modern Rachel with bangs. This stunning cut is perfect for when you want to copy the layered look of the Rachel cut but don't want to part ways with your length. Ask your hairstylist for soft and wispy layers paired with soft front or curtain bangs. You can also experiment with other bang styles like the side part, side bangs, and blunt front bangs for more dimension.

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Octopus Cut

The octopus cut is another variation of the Rachel cut with a modern twist you'll want to try. This trendy cut is versatile, edgy, and flattering on any hair type. "It's a more modern take on the shag, with shorter layers throughout the front and concave, short to long layers throughout the back," Jarrod Shinn, a pro colorist, and stylist, tells Real Simple.

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You can pair the cut with bangs of your choice, including curtain-style or long front bangs, or stick with face-framing layers.

The Sachel

Modern Twists On 'The Rachel' Cut You'll Want To Try In 2023 - The List (11)

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A hybrid of the Rachel and the shag, this trendy haircut is an edgier version of the '90s cut. The satchel features choppy, short layers that give a soft, weightless look. After seeing notable celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Billie Eilish rock the shag, it's clear that this haircut can be worn in more than one way. This modern twist on the Rachel cut is a more relaxed, weightless, and airy version of the shag for a soft-chic look.

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The layered bob

Modern Twists On 'The Rachel' Cut You'll Want To Try In 2023 - The List (12)

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

You can sport the modern Rachel cut even if you have short locks. Chrissy Teigenshowed off her layered, choppy bob that put the spotlight back onto shoulder-length cuts. You can go even shorter with the Rachel cut to hair that sits above your shoulders — just avoid getting a blunt cut throughout the hair to really nail and emulate the Rachel look. Ask your hairstylist for a layered bob to add more movement and an airy volume.

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The Rachel with chunky, bright highlights

We typically saw the Rachel cut paired with honey-toned highlights that created a sun-kissed, soft look, but this isn't the only way you can color the hair. If you love a bright blonde color, you can still slay this cut with vibrant blonde, chunky highlights. Chunky highlights were a major trend in the '90s that are making a comeback.Celebrity hairdresser Sinéad Kelly, founder of the award-winning salon Sinéad Kelly London, tells Stylist, "Chunky highlights are when lighter colors meet the deeper colors in your hair to create a more contoured feel."

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Long, face-framing layers

This hairstyle is for those out there who love their long locks and want to maintain their long layers. You don't need short, choppy layers to get the Rachel cut. All you need are a few longer face-framing layers to get the perfect Rachel cut with a modern twist. To create the iconic flick of the hair, style your hair with a blow dryer and round brush, and flick the hair away from you and towards your face for that bouncy finish.

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Modern Twists On 'The Rachel' Cut You'll Want To Try In 2023 - The List (2024)

FAQs

What is the modern Rachel haircut? ›

The 'Rachel' haircut typically falls to about shoulder length, making it versatile and suitable for various face shapes and hair types. It features texture and lots of layers that frame the face.

Is the Rachel haircut outdated? ›

Jennifer Aniston took the Golden Globes red carpet by storm this week when she debuted her new hairstyle – dubbed the Rachel haircut 2.0. Jake Unger from HOB Salons say it fits perfectly into the current 90s trend.

What face shape is best for the Rachel haircut? ›

Who suits 'The Rachel' The best part about 'The Rachel' haircut – it suits practically everyone! The cut is flattering on oval and long face shapes in particular, but also works on square and heart-shaped faces.

Did Jennifer Aniston like the Rachel haircut? ›

Despite bringing back the hairstyle for last night's festivities, Aniston revealed to Allure in 2011 that she wasn't a fan of the haircut and was not too pleased with “The Rachel” trend going around.

What is the most trendy haircut right now? ›

The bob has been super popular for some time now, and it's easy to see why. Being one of the biggest hairstyle trends for 2024, the bob hairstyle is flattering, easy to maintain, and it projects a sense of feminine self-confidence.

What is the iconic Rachel haircut? ›

"The Rachel" is described as an intricate, voluminous, feathered haircut that ends just shy of its wearer's collarbone, with "choppy layers, chunky blonde highlights, and a blown-out look".

How do I ask for the Rachel haircut? ›

Asking Your Stylist for "The Rachel"

Still, it helps to be able to articulate what you want in language that a stylist will understand. Given The Rachel is so iconic, Arcadia Salon hairstylist and colorist Theo Pettway says that simply asking for “The Rachel” or “'90s layers” should be telling enough.

What haircut suits a chubby face? ›

Flattering hairstyles for round faces include long layers, side-swept bangs, and asymmetrical cuts, which help elongate the face and create the illusion of angles. Soft waves and textured styles also complement round faces by adding dimension and movement.

Is the Rachel haircut hard to maintain? ›

Drawbacks of the Original

In a Marie Claire interview, Jennifer Aniston even shared about the style's challenges: "The Rachel was high maintenance. I'd curse Chris every time I had to blow dry. It took three brushes—it was like doing surgery!"

How much does Jennifer Aniston weigh? ›

Aniston shared, “My body doesn't love carbs. These days, if I was being super picky, I would love to drop 5 pounds. That is just where I have always been really comfortable at about 110 to 113 pounds.

Did Jennifer Aniston cut her hair in 2024? ›

Since The Rachel, she's given us poker-straight liquid hair, and, more recently, she's made lightly layered, chest-length strands her signature. But the actress took the opportunity to shake things up at the Golden Globes 2024 red carpet, where she debuted the shortest chop we've seen on her in years.

Is the Rachel haircut coming back in 2024? ›

Jennifer Aniston is responsible for what is arguably one of the most famous haircuts in recent pop culture history, and after reviving "The Rachel" at the 2024 Golden Globes, the actress brought it back with a modern twist, and it's kick-me-in-the-crotch-spit-on-your neck fantastic.

Is the Rachel haircut high maintenance? ›

What is the Rachel haircut? The original Rachel haircut featured 90s layers and tons of face-framing pieces. The result created a rounded, bouncy blowout with plenty of volume. The only problem with this cut, according to Anniston, was how high maintenance it was for her hair.

What is a butterfly cut haircut? ›

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.

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