This celebrity hairstylist is behind "the Rachel" hairstyle—and now, he's introducing an iconic haircare line.

      (Image credit: Getty Images; Ron Galella, Ltd./Wireimage; Chris McMillan)

      Chris McMillan has long been enamored with the excitement of hair transformations. "I used to hang out with this girl who loved roller skating," the renowned hairstylist reminisces with a chuckle. "Her mother was a hairdresser, and she styled her hair like Farrah Fawcett—just like all the girls in high school. After Christmas break, she returned to school with a perm and a bob cut. I thought, 'Wow, she's stunning. Am I infatuated with her, or is it the change that's got me?'" This moment marked the first time he recognized the significant impact of hair on identity, self-expression, and even defiance. The allure was intoxicating, and he craved more. "I've always been drawn to the dramatic haircuts that are just as beautiful, if not more," he says. It's only fitting that years later, he would be behind one of pop culture's most iconic hair transformations: Jennifer Aniston's "the Rachel." Their collaboration came about organically and unexpectedly, thanks to talent manager Molly Madden, who had witnessed McMillan's work on Patricia Arquette during her True Romance promotional tour. "Molly said, 'I have this girl who just finished a pilot,' and that was Jennifer Aniston," he recounts. "She had just wrapped filming the Friends pilot and needed her hair adjusted."

      He shares there was no specific brief—only an image of Amber Valletta for Gucci by Tom Ford that lingered in his mind. "We cut her hair to clavicle length, then gave her a blowout inspired by Amber's sleek deep side part that just grazed her shoulders. After that, Jennifer's bangs grew out quickly, leading to a blowout with layered hair and grown-out bangs. And that's how the Rachel was born," he explains.

      I probably don’t need to remind you how the face-framing lob defined the '90s and continued to be a staple for years (McMillan mentions that he often updates the Rachel cut for clients at his salon), cherished for its effortlessly tousled look and flattering layers. However, maintaining the Rachel? That’s an entirely different challenge. "Jennifer will quickly tell you she couldn't style it herself," McMillan reveals. "It looked great when I did it, but she struggled with it on her own."

      This sentiment echoed with his clients, regardless of their fame. "I love my hair. How do I style it myself?" became the most frequently asked question at his salon, prompting him to launch his product line—which is officially available at Sephora starting today. This collection includes seven essential haircare items designed to achieve "chair hair" at home: a smoothing blow-dry spray, a shine-enhancing hairspray, a dry texturizing spray, a multitasking styling balm, an air-whipped mousse, a buildable and brushable hair gel, and a portable styling wand. With these products, McMillan promises you can replicate "anything I've done to your hair," whether you're rocking a modern Rachel or the "c*nty little bob," a viral hairstyle he created for Leslie Bibb's character in season 3 of The White Lotus.

      While those with varying hair types may combine these products differently, they’re intended to be timeless classics, much like how the Rachel will maintain its relevance despite the ever-changing hair trends. "I've noticed many people are asking for layers," McMillan shares regarding current styling trends. He predicts that people will lean towards more shape and movement in their hair as bob enthusiasts transition to collarbone-length styles. "As the bob grows out, layering becomes popular," he adds. "Getting a Rachel-esque haircut is a fantastic choice. You can seamlessly transition from a c*nty bob to the Rachel."

      No matter the haircut—be it the Rachel, the c*nty little bob, or something else—Chris McMillan haircare is there to make upkeep easy. Below, discover each of the soon-to-be essentials along with exclusive tips from the hair icon himself.

      My personal favorites:

      The Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray

      Chris McMillan

      The Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray

      This product acts as a prep spray that cuts your blow-dry time in half while smoothing frizz and adding shine. In McMillan's terms, it's as if Kérastase's Oléo-Relax and Color Wow's Dream Coat had a baby. Light yet deeply moisturizing, it protects your hair from humidity and even detangles strands, allowing it to be used alone without heat. "You can't overapply it," he says. "It's kind of like the Flush Balm by Merit—you can't go wrong."

      The Dry Texture Spray

      Chris McMillan

      The Dry Texture Spray

      At the salon, McMillan would position your head upside down after a blowout and generously spritz your hair with text