Not all of Jennifer Aniston’s hairstyles from Friends have been properly appreciated. While “The Rachel’ was popular for a time, the shoulder length hairstyles that frame the face, and have movement and soft waves, still look beautiful on women over 40. Jennifer Aniston’s hairstyles with warm highlights that are not overly done and look expensive are what many women over the age of 40 should have.
It works when the reference is so well done that it stops being a reference. A client of mine once brought in a photo of Jennifer Aniston in season eight of Friends. Just the haircut was all she liked and she didn’t know the photo was from Friends. She just wanted the haircut and that’s all she needed. For years I have based looks on good layering and good coloring in movement on a set of styles from Friends and I have finally come up with 25 looks inspired by Rachel Green’s later hairstyles. You might find some of them to be surprising or some just to be right.
#1: A Lob That Actually Has Something Going On
This haircut is just above the shoulders which is the length I aim for when someone wants to feel like they cut their hair without actually mourning it. The highlights look woven in and not just sitting on top which makes the texture look deliberate. This cut will reward you if your hair has any natural wave at all. The layering will give it enough shape so you won’t feel like you’re fighting with it every morning. You’ll want to see your colorist every few months to keep those highlights from drifting!
#2 Long Layers That Earn Their Keep
I usually am not a fan of recommending long layers as they can go so easily wrong and you can end up just looking like you skipped a haircut. But these are done well. The purposeful placement of the face framing pieces catches the light where it needs to and the length has enough movement so that it doesn’t just hang there. This works on straight to slightly wavy hair with little effort – and that’s literally the point. If you want your hair to look like it has a plan without going shorter, this is the one.
#3 Face-Framing That Knows Where to Stop
I appreciate the restraint shown with this cut. The layers have been cut softly enough to create movement without causing fine or medium hair to look thin, and the highlights around the face are placed to brighten without that stripy look we don’t want. It’s a medium-length style that won’t take much from you on a day-to-day basis, although you will need to keep up with trims every six to eight weeks, because once those layers lose their shape, the entire cut loses its intention.
#4 Warm Highlights Done the Right Way
Shoulder length hair with highlights could be stunning or look like a mistake that never changed from 2003. This example is stunning. Instead of being curled too many times, the hair has soft waves, and the color is a natural, look how easy this is, tone. If you have fine hair and want to create the illusion if more, the soft layering and tonal dimension of the highlights is just how to do this. All this style needs is some volumizing mousse worked through damp hair before blow drying.
#5 Copper Tones and a Clean Shape
I’ll show you a few looks which draw attention to your face, and will compliment your golden, peachy undertones. I also love how warm copper and thin hair will lift your look. The cut itself is pretty simple: shoulder length with layers to prevent the shape from going boxy. This type of simplicity is actually ideal for fine hair because there is nothing competing for attention, aside from a clean silhouette and a color that brings warmth to your face. Just keep in mind that copper fades faster than most colors, so to keep your color fresh between appointments, a color-depositing shampoo is worth it.
#6 Volume Without the Production
I enjoy doing this hairstyle due to the fact it seems like it took a long time to do when it actually took me only 12 minutes. The layers I added give the hair great volume in the middle. The face framing layers I added are flattering in a more subtle way. After the haircut, if your hair has any natural bends or waves, you are going to love how this haircut looks. It looks really good after some rough drying with a round brush in the front.
#7 Thick Hair, Finally Cooperating
If you have thick wavy hair and every layered cut turns into a triangle, listen up. The internal texture keeps control of the shape and the flow of the hair. Nothing will be aggressively thinned, and no sides will poof out. You hair will just behave. Shoulder length is the sweet spot for this hair type because you get the weight to keep the hair smooth without the commitment of thick hair. This hair cut honestly gets better on day two.
#8 The Low-Effort Wave
When it comes to the layers in this hairdo, they’re just the right amount to allow for some wave definition. Whether you let your hair dry naturally, or you like to diffuse, it will capture the waves just perfectly. As for the highlights, they won’t be distracting to your overall look, but will help add some brightness. Some people may even say you look more rested than you actually are! Shoulder grazing lengths are very rare, and it will suit almost everyone.
#9 Natural Texture, Actually Encouraged
If your hair is the kind that has a life of its own, you will love this! This cut accepts waves instead of hiding them, and at shoulder length you get movement, not chaos. Medium density hair holds these waves best, however, if yours is flat by the afternoon a texturizing spray and a scrunch through the mid will do the trick. This is possitively low maintenance. It looks purposeful, but doesn’t require much purpose.
#10 Bangs That Work for Grown Women
Bangs after 40 can be a hit or miss. But these bangs are a hit! They are soft and blend perfectly with the layers. The warm chestnut with subtle highlights is balanced and sophisticated. The color isn’t too sweet, and it’s polished, but still soft. You will need to book appointments every 3 to 4 weeks to keep these bangs fresh, but it will absolutely be worth it.
#11 Long and Layered Without Looking Like You’re Holding On
There is little need for women over 40 to have longer hair, but what you have described sounds more like holding on to something, rather than a choice. This, however, is that latter. The length paired with the layers is designed to create movement, along with the highlights that keep the hair from looking heavy or flat as a whole. For the thicker hair, this will be more achievable, and for the finer hair, this what you see in the picture will be harder to attain.
#12 A Quiet Sophistication
In this cut, the first thing that stands out is the blend. Everything looks super blended and balanced. The layers, highlights, and shape all create a look that just makes beautiful hair. Getting this level of seamlessness is not easy and is what really separates an okay haircut from a great one. It is especially good with fine to medium hair as it does not create a weighty or overdone aesthetic. That lightness is really the goal.
#13 Soft Structure for Rounder Faces
This is saying something more than just grow your hair out for long layers. If you want a more blunt look, the softness in the shoulder grazing texture will give that without the requirement of long hair. The face framing is soft and carved, and the silhouette has dynamic movement so nothing feels stagnant. All the styling this will take is some effort with a large barrel curling iron on a few front pieces.
#14 Modern Bangs With Layers That Move
These bangs are different from standard face-framing bangs as they cross the forehead with a softness-engineered to avoid appearing blunt and the underneath layers pick up the cut. This is the kind of modern style that isn’t trendy and that’s exactly the zone you want to be in with a style you’ll have for a while. The light brown shade with vague highlighting is the type of color that looks inexpensive and natural at the same time which is the point of quality color work.
#15 Strategic Highlights That Change Everything
In this instance, the color may contribute just as much if not more than the cut. There are highlights around the face and placed throughout the upper layers that hit light and make for an engineered, yet natural, dimension. The cut is good, medium length and soft layering, but it is mostly the highlight placement that elevates the haircut to a different level. If the color has made your hair feel dull and flat, then this is the best way to color to bring about a dramatic change without cutting length.
#16 The Blow-Out That Lasts
If you love a good blow-dry or have a stylist who excels at blow-drying, this haircut will really reward you. The layers will keep movement, and the highlights will catch the light when your hair sways. This style will give you real staying power, especially if your hair is medium to thick. With a good blow-dry and some dry shampoo, you will be able to stretch the life of this style easily to 2-3 days. The payoff is there; you’ll have to style it, but you’ll definitely be rewarded.
#17 Bangs That Draw the Eye Up
These eye-level bangs are created to accentuate your eyes without fully hiding the ideal target area— your eyebrows. Behind these bangs, the shorter, textured layers are of just the right length to look full without being overly styled. If you want a bigger change while keeping the length or density of your hair, this would be a great option because bangs by themselves can drastically shift the proportions of your face. Bangs on fine hair, tend to get greasy quicker so you may want to consider dry shampoo in your routine.
#18 The Bob That Doesn’t Try Too Hard
Two variations of this bob style exist. One features a woman with a bob and a manager haircut. My friend is the second option. With a warm chestnut bob that is neither too light nor too dark, she is color balanced. The soft fringe balanced the bob and prevents her from looking too severe. If your hair is straight, and you really don’t want to spend a lot of time in the morning adding waves, this is a clever haircut to get. With just a flat iron to finish the ends, you’re all set!
#19 Waves With Actual Body
People are going to think you have great hair, which we can all agree, is a huge compliment on your cut and color. These waves are soft and undone, and aren’t structured like perfect ringlets. The highlights are subtle and give enough tonal variation that even when the hair falls flat, it will still look dimensional. This look is achievable if your hair is finer, but you’ll need to invest in a thickening spray which will help to hold the waves and give you a solid base after blow drying.
#20 Effortless Layers With Smart Color
The hair industry uses the term “effortless” to describe looks that require a tremendous amount of effort. This layered look is the closest to actually earning that title. The layers look haphazard, but are actually very structured. The highlights are subtle enough that if you push your appointment back a week or two, they won’t look like a mistake. If you have an angular face, this is an easy style to wear and very flattering. Overall, I think I can recommend this style without knowing someone’s entire life story.
#21 Light and Easy, Without Looking Like Nothing
To showcase that balance between effortless and put together, this haircut is a great example. Gentle layers and highlights give the impression of someone who self-cares but doesn’t need to go over the top. This haircut is especially smart on light, fine hair as it doesn’t require a lot of extra volumizing products, but works with what you have. For the highlights to keep looking dimensional, you will need to have colour touch-ups done every 8-10 weeks.
#22 Bangs and Layers in Conversation
This style works because of how the bangs and the layers are designed to go together, and are not treated like an afterthought. The warm color tones also keep everything cohesive, and the way the face-framing pieces merge with the fringe is so seamless. Medium-density hair is preferred here because it gives just enough for the bangs to not be too heavy and for the layers to not look too sparse. It’s definitely a journey, and the maintenance (regular trims every six weeks) is the price of admission, but it’s worth it!
#23 The Soft Wave That Photographs Well
Not every haircut looks good in practice, but this one does! This style stands out and looks amazing in the photos! The face-framing layers are beautifully highlighted and the warm highlights aren’t brassy. The texture provides that quality of ‘I woke up like this’ but, of course, better. This haircut is most suitable for fine or medium hair, as the layers won’t require as much density to create a full, substantial look. This style is for you if you want to look put together without a huge time commitment.
#24 A Clean Bob With Softened Edges
While some may view blunt cuts as extreme, soft bangs offer just enough to take the edge off without compromising the bob’s crisp contours. The chocolate color adds richness all while presenting a clean professional appearance. The hue works nicely with a wider range of skin tones than one would think. Best results with this style occur when the ends are kept and if you tend to let twelve weeks go by between appointments, this may look shaggy before you are ready to deal with it. For the rest, it runs among the most refined looks in the entire collection.
#25 The Bangs-and-Shine Combination
The hair’s natural shine is certainly a sign that this cut is as important as the condition of the hair. The bangs are softly parted, styled, and sit as opposed to looking forced. The mid-length cut has just the right amount of wave to keep it from looking flat. A gloss treatment done at the salon or at home every few weeks will keep that reflectiveness. Without it this look loses thirty percent of its meaningful impact.
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