by Angie Barron

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: February 28, 2009

Many of us look to celebrities to dictate our style preferences. What better way to keep up with changing styles in fashion and hairstyles than to switch on E! news? When we look back on hairstyles of the 90's, one TV star stands out above all the rest. One woman captivated us with her changing trendy styles from season to season. On just about every head you saw was one signature style, the "Rachel". That's right Jennifer Aniston's lovable character of "Rachel Green" on the hit show "Friends" told us all what to do with our hair for every successful season.

The "Rachel" was a layered cut which was longer in the back and shorter up front with face framing fringe layers. The character of Rachel wore her bangs in a side swept fashion which gave the style lift and volume up top. The look flattered Jennifer Aniston's face perfectly. As the show progressed, so did Rachel's hair. The character went through several style changes and each one permeated through mainstream culture and ended up on the heads of many American women from the city to the suburbs.

Another popular style inspired by the our favorite friend was a sheik chin length bob. This style was the opposite of the original "Rachel" but ended up being equally as popular. This style was a twist on the basic bob with the front bangs hanging slightly longer than the back and parted just in the middle. The difference in length from from to back was slight, but it was this little tweak that made this look so special and so perfect for this fashionable character. This look is far from dead and has been seen recently on Katie Holmes, Beyonce, and Rihanna. Jennifer Aniston wound up growing this style out and going for an ultra feminine long straight look, which she still has today.

The charismatic cast of "Friends" were an American obsession during the 90's, so it isn't surprising that so many women wanted to emulate Rachel's look. No matter what the decade, women will always choose a fashion role model to guide them through the confusing world of fashion and trend. The 90's were full of fashionable sleek styles. Layers were hot, but there were also some popular straight styles including Jennifer Aniston's grow out look. I think we were all thankful when the big hair of the 80's started to deflate into more flattering styles. I think most would agree that when compared to the 80's, the hair trends of the 90's will likely be far less embarrassing to look back on decades from now.

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