Well, “The Rachel” is back. The iconic cut of the 90s made famous by Jennifer Aniston’s character Rachel on Friends has returned in all its shaggy, layered glory. Ash Chapman, owner of Moda Salon, and Moda’s cutting director, Joe Eisenmenger, take us on a tour of dos, letting us know what hairstyles are back and what styles would be better kept in the past.
“I’m a 90s girl and living my best life right now with the 90s-inspired cuts coming back into style,” says Ash. “A couple years ago, the stick-straight, long look with one length and no layers was popular, but now, we’re seeing layered looks, fringy fronts, and tons of movement. It’s such a fun style to cut.”
And don’t worry, the guys aren’t left behind. “The Hanson Brothers look is coming back,” says Ash. “Guys are moving away from the crew cut and embracing the longer look. Many are also asking for perms and wanting a more styled cut.”
Joe adds, “Trends always come back in a cyclical way, and the 90s bombshell look is back with a modernized take. We’re moving away from the flat iron and embracing your more natural look and texture, creating a look that’s effortless, slightly more undone, and messy. People are stressed enough, so make your hair simple!”
Lower maintenance is back in style. Ash and Joe are seeing styles that allow you to simply clip your hair back with claw clips and the 90s French pins. “The sign of a really great haircut is when all you have to do is piece it into place — when the shape is so well cut you don’t have to do much, and everything falls just right,” says Ash.
So, if your hairstyle has been stuck in the 90s since, well, the 90s, you’re in luck that you’re trending again. However, if you want to modernize the cut or switch up your style, Joe recommends, “Take small steps to break out of your comfort zone. If you’re someone who has had long hair forever, start by giving it a little shape and then go from there. You can always make that chop.” Ash continues, “We know people have had bad experiences in salons, so making those small changes first can help with any apprehension. We always want to pair lifestyle with hairstyle. If you’re a yoga girl, we don’t want to give you bangs that will fall in your eyes every second.”
However, one style Ash and Joe think should be left in yesteryear is over-processed hair. “The blondies and the perms should stay in the past,” says Joe. “No matter what style you have, if your hair is healthy, it’s going to look good. If you’ve over-processed your hair, giving it a break to get healthier will give you much more freedom with styles.”
Also, long gone are the days when you get a great style done at the salon and then avoid washing your hair for a week because you know once you wash it, it won’t look like that again. “Back in the day, you pretty much needed a cosmetology license to replicate what you had done in the salon,” says Joe. “Nowadays, the customer has access to more user-friendly tools and is so much more knowledgeable with great resources on YouTube. You can learn great tips and tricks and discover what works best to style your hair.” “We also always take the time to teach our clients how to style their new cut,” Ash says.
Haircuts and styles are consistently being rebranded for the next generation. So, while the 90s are back, at the end of the day, Ash and Joe share their best advice. “The best hairstyle is the one that makes you feel amazing.”
Trends always come back in a cyclical way, and the 90s bombshell look is back.