It seems even Jessica Alba wasn't immune to the biggest Noughties hair craze: the Rachel haircut.
The July 2022 GLAMOUR cover star made her acting debut aged 13 in 1994 – the same year the first series of Friends aired, starring Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, whose choppy-layered, shoulder skimming cut became the look of the 90s and early Noughties.
And the award-winning Hollywood actor turned Honest Beauty entrepreneur, now 41, also had the same style herself – going all in by visiting Chris McMillan, the very hairdresser responsible for Jennifer's famous haircut, and getting “extreme layers”.
Speaking to GLAMOUR she says: “I actually got a haircut from Chris McMillan, who did the Rachel cut from Friends. And I think it was actually my first official haircut that my mum didn’t give me. My hair was down to my butt and when I came home with the Rachel cut, it was like these really extreme layers.”
She wasn't alone; The Rachel, named after the character, is considered to be one of the most famous haircuts in history, and was emulated by millions of women around the world. While the cut might have won her favour with her peers (and her then-rising fan base), it seems the popular look did not go down well with Jessica's Mexican-American family – for whom a long-haired look was the gold standard of beauty. “My dad tried to ground me,” she tells GLAMOUR (although it's unclear quite how they would have worked with her up-and-coming acting career).
It seems beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however, and Jessica breezily adds that she has always been happy to “have fun” with her hair, as “it grows” – a philosophy which has no doubt powered her through countless stand-out looks through her career, from the aforementioned Rachel haircut in her teens; to her trademark long, sleek medium brunette style with blonde highlights in the early 2010s; to a flipped-out chin-length bob in dark brunette; to, more recently, an “expensive blonde” style. We're here for it!
Of course, ‘beauty’ is a particularly multi-faceted term for Jessica Alba – who, since 2015, has run her own beauty company Honest Beauty, now a billion-dollar empire. Not only is she a champion of “inner beauty” after years spent in the public eye navigating A-lister beauty standards, but she is also a leading proponent of safe, non-toxic beauty – the raison d'être behind her company, which she started after experiencing a severe allergic reaction to a laundry detergent designed for babies.
What’s the most radical thing you’ve ever done in the name of beauty?
Probably fighting for chemical legislation reform [lobbying US Congress for the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011] to try and get more transparency and force companies to really think about the chemicals that they use in products and test them for safety prior to bringing them into the marketplace.
Growing up, what was your relationship like with your hair?
I grew up in a Mexican-American family and they really feel like girls’ hair should be long. And so when I started acting, I actually got a haircut from Chris McMillan, who did the Rachel cut from Friends. And I think it was actually my first official haircut that my mom didn’t give me. My hair was down to my butt and when I came home with the Rachel cut, it was like these really extreme layers. My dad tried to ground me. It was so crazy. I kind of feel like hair… you should just have fun with it; it grows.
What is your biggest beauty vice?
I know the sun is not good for the skin. I know, but I just love it! I just love being out in nature. I love taking hikes. I love all the beaches… I will wear a hat and I will absolutely wear sunscreen, but I don’t stay out of the sun.
What is the best life-changing beauty hack you’ve learned?
I would say [seeing] the inner beauty, actually. Growing up in entertainment, there’s so much emphasis on appearance and trying to fit some mould that feels on trend… of what you should look like or not look like or what is beautiful. And I really feel like the more I worked on myself and I felt confident in my own skin, that’s when I felt the most beautiful. And wildly, it happened after I was 30.
Your beauty cabinet is on fire, what three products would you save?
Definitely the Extreme Length Mascara by Honest Beauty… the Hydrogel Cream as well, which is a moisturiser that literally feels like water is being splashed on your face. And it’s this time-release hydration. It’s amazing. It’s not heavy, but it feels super-luxurious and it doesn’t have any fragrances. I have such allergic skin. And Prime + Perfect Mask, because I feel like whether it’s during the day or at night, I need that little me time and it smells like a smoothie. It’s like a smoothie for my face.
Honest Beauty is available to buy in the UK online and in-store from Boots and Look Fantastic.
