An Unabridged Historical past of the Hair Merchandise Used on ‘Associates’

Brigitte Bardot‘s beehive. Elvis’ pompadour. Jennifer Aniston’s “The Rachel.” Essentially the most dynamic hair moments simply type of roll off the tongue. And, whereas Associates might have premiered 30-plus years in the past, the long-lasting types will undoubtedly maintain on tight to their place in historical past.

The one-man present answerable for cementing it: Celeb stylist Chris McMillan. Whereas McMillan is greatest identified for being Aniston’s go-to hair guru these days, because the stylist himself informed us, he was answerable for just about all the celebs’ strands on set.

“I did everybody’s hair on Associates—besides Lisa’s,” shares McMillan, who can clearly recall the present’s behind-the-scenes moments, all the way down to the tiniest element. “So first, I might do Jennifer’s hair and she or he would get her hair blown out after which go into make-up. Then, I might do Courteney’s hair, and after that, I’d do Matt, David and Matthew. For David, I might simply trim and clear up his hair, however he would all the time do his personal merchandise and magnificence his hair.”

The Heros

Apart from giving a life-changing lower and blowout, McMillan additionally has a darn good reminiscence of probably the most minute hair moments from Associates. “For Jennifer, a few of the hair go-to’s have been a spherical brush for blow drying, Laminates Hairspray by Sebastian and a flatiron. I might use Phyto Volumizing Styling Spray ($18) on Jennifer’s roots to get [a] carry. I additionally used a hair oil, like Kérastase Oleo-Loosen up Hair Oil ($42), on the ends of her hair earlier than we blow-dried to maintain it from getting frizzy. Then, I’d combine that anti-frizz oil with a paste, like Shu Uemura Ishi Sculpt Texturizing & Sculpting Hair Paste ($46), and that combination ended up inspiring Jennifer’s Lolavie Sculpting Paste ($29) product afterward.”

For Courteney Cox, McMillan says the key to Monica’s look was one particular spray. “I usually used a salt spray, like Bumble & Bumble Surf Sea Salt Spray ($35). And, on the boys, I additionally used the Shu Uemura Sculpting Paste. I bear in mind utilizing Murray’s Wax ($14) for David Schwimmer’s hair, too.”

Chuckle Monitor

Whereas the present itself was humorous, McMillan says there’s one inside joke that stood out. “One actually enjoyable second and reminiscence from the present was once I wore a T-shirt that mentioned ‘Save The Drama For Your Mama’ with lips on it. Jennifer mentioned she cherished the shirt, so we received her one and she or he ended up sporting it on the present.”

Hand Hack

Not surprisingly, McMillan says Aniston and he all the time “labored collectively throughout glam,” and calls it a crew effort. “Every time we’d do her hair up, I might give her a clip and she or he would twist it and put it up in a bun, after which I might go in and refine it. One other second throughout glam I bear in mind is once I would flat iron and spray her hair, she would put her hand in between her face and the entrance a part of her hair so it could give a slight bend to her hair to not dangle down straight. It was all the time a collaboration between us.”

The Rachel, Revised

McMillan doesn’t have one favourite Associates’ coiffure as a result of “it was all the time enjoyable to do Jennifer’s hair,” however factors to at least one false impression: “It’s humorous as a result of individuals say Jennifer wore her hair the identical throughout the present, however if you happen to have a look at the evolution, it’s been so totally different over time. I believe Rachel’s hair was a seamless transition over all of the seasons of Associates.”  

“However two enjoyable hair seems to be I’ve all the time cherished are the 2 braids we did for the Thanksgiving soccer episode, and the pigtails she wore within the episode when she gave beginning to Emma. I cherished these hairstyles as a result of they’re seems to be that Jennifer herself wouldn’t usually do, however they have been very attribute of Rachel.”

Trip Vibes

“We by no means actually did onerous hairstyles as a result of that wasn’t the vibe of Rachel’s character. Rachel’s hair all the time seemed straightforward and relatable,” remembers McMillan. “The toughest coiffure I really ever did was the Barbados episode when Courteney/Monica had her hair tremendous frizzy after which received her hair braided with the seashells!”

Layer Sport

McMillan says the 12 months 2024 is unquestionably seeing haircuts which might be resurgences of in style hair seems to be from the ’90s. “For instance, we’re seeing a variety of the clavicle-length lower proper now, which is a long-layered, collarbone-length bob and mainly the comeback of The Rachel lower.”