As Feabag once said, “Hair is everything,” and by the looks of it, Jennifer Aniston agrees! The woman behind the 1990s “Rachel” haircut, the style that became one of TV’s most iconic looks, so much so that it even has its own Wikipedia page. Yes, that woman has admitted she admires Kate Middleton‘s long, glossy blow-dry. In fact, she even feels a hint of envy.
After Richard Ward, the stylist behind Kate Middleton’s signature “Chelsea blow-dry,” pointed out that her hairstyle gets fewer salon requests than Jennifer Aniston’s iconic “Rachel” cut, Aniston weighed in. In a profile for Marie Claire, she admitted that if anyone gives her “hair envy,” it’s Middleton. She said,
Kate Middleton. Does she do her hair herself? She’s got a hard job, being scrutinized like that. When I have a bad hair day, my hair just goes in a clip.
Now, one thing that is worth noting is while both Kate Middleton’s signature look and Aniston’s haircut may seem effortless, anyone who’s tried to recreate them at home knows they’re anything but easy.
The Rachel relies on expert round-brushing to get those iconic flipped layers, while Middleton’s style needs precise blow-drying to get volume at the roots and smooth ends. They might look different and use different techniques, but one can agree that they are both in the same family, if not sisters, then close cousins. As they look polished and put-together, yet still feel relatable enough for anyone to want to try them.
Between 1994 and 1996, an estimated 11 million women adopted the “Rachel” haircut, making it one of the most requested styles of the 1990s. In a 1996 report, an Alabama stylist noted that approximately 40 percent of her weekly clients requested the cut during that peak period, as reported by Mental Floss.
On the other hand, following her 2010 engagement to Prince William, Kate Middleton’s signature “Chelsea blow-dry” sparked a frenzy across the UK. Hair salons reported a noticeable uptick in clients asking for voluminous, glossy styles inspired by the Duchess as per Vogue. Here is how these two women changed the world of hair in detail!
How “The Rachel” Became a Global Phenomenon!
When Friends premiered in September 1994, Jennifer Aniston wore plain, shoulder‑length hair. By the time Season 2 aired, her stylist Chris McMillan had introduced a crisp, layered cut that accentuated Aniston’s face shape while adding movement on camera.
Jennifer Aniston in a still from FRIENDS donning The Rachel | Credits: NBC
The Rachel’s architecture relied on heavy layering around the crown and cheekbones, followed by texturizing that added volume without visible lines. At the height of Friends mania, over 20 million U.S. households were tuning in, according to Nielsen (via Dan G’s Website), and the ripple effect of Rachel Green’s hair was unstoppable.
The layered cut didn’t just stay on screen, it crossed oceans, popped up in magazines with step-by-step guides, and even earned its own salon packages from L.A. to London.
But while The Rachel became the gold standard for ’90s chic, Jennifer Aniston herself wasn’t exactly a fan. She’s admitted the look was high-maintenance and way too much blow-drying. Speaking about the experience, Aniston revealed in the same Marie Claire chat,
The Rachel was high maintenance. I’d curse Chris every time I had to blowdry. It took three brushes—it was like doing surgery!…The Rachel was horrible!
Still, her face and hair launched one of the most iconic styles in TV history.
The Rachel also wasn’t just a haircut, it was an economy. Salons rode the wave, celebrities like Meg Ryan and Victoria Beckham borrowed from the stylebook, and cosmetology schools still teach the cut as a masterclass in layering. Speaking about the birth of the hairstyle, the actress said,
My manager at the time said, “You have to do something with your hair—it’s horrible!” I walked into the salon and Chris just lopped it off. I mean, at that point it was pretty much The Rachel.
What started as a spontaneous snip turned into something that many couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams.
Love it or not, Aniston’s influence is undeniable. Even if she’s moved on to more relaxed looks, the world clearly hasn’t let go of The Rachel, and maybe never will.
Kate Middleton’s Hair Routine: Why Millions Try to Copy It
Kate Middleton is no stranger to starting fashion trends, but her hair has its own fan base, which apparently Jennifer Aniston is a part of, and honestly, it deserves it. That shiny, bouncy, perfectly swishy blow-dry is more than just good hair. It’s a statement!
Kate Middleton in an interview | Credits: BBC
So, what is this blow-dry everyone’s obsessed with? Named after Chelsea, one of London’s most stylish and polished neighborhoods, the style is all about volume, shine, and a perfectly controlled curl at the ends. It’s not too stiff, not too beachy, just the right kind of royal-approved bounce. It looks like it costs a fortune, but in the best, most effortless way.
Achieving it, however, takes more than just a quick brush through as per Vogue. This is a precision blowout. James Pryce, who created Middleton’s wedding day look, said,
It all depends on your hair type, There are two different techniques for different hair types, so first decide whether you have thinner, straighter hair or if it’s thicker and frizzier.
First things first, you need a volumizing shampoo, a lightweight conditioner, and a lift-boosting mist. For thicker hair, smoothing serum is advised. Then comes the blow-dryer and a round brush, section by section, root to tip, to get that fullness without frizz.
At the end, what you achieve is a royal, yet relatable look, one that says “photo-ready,” but still works for a bodega run. No surprise it became an international hair goal the moment Kate Middleton stepped into the spotlight.
Whether you’re off to a wedding or just want to pretend your errands are a royal engagement, the Chelsea blowout always, without fail, brings that touch of magic.
Which one would you actually try today? A Rachel or a Chelsea, let us know down in the comments!