For decades, Jennifer Aniston’s unique, signature hairstyle has inspired countless women to visit the salon. The “Rachel”—a layered, shoulder-length, dark blonde cut with face-framing pieces—holds a proud spot in pop culture’s hair hall of fame. But Jen An is reminding everyone that her iconic look is far from natural.
In a video shared on her personal Instagram and her haircare brand LolaVie’s account, the actress responds to an off-camera question about her hair color: “Would I ever go brunette? I am brunette.”
Her Friends co-star and longtime friend Courteney Cox then steps into view. “Here, this is what she looks like brunette,” Cox says, draping her own dark hair over Aniston’s head to frame her face.
“That’s black!” Aniston exclaims.
“It’s not black,” Cox playfully retorts.
“It’s dark,” Aniston insists.
“It’s dark brown,” Cox counters.
“Oh, this is like the Horrible Bosses character I played,” Aniston says, referring to the 2011 film where she wore a dark brown wig to portray a sex-obsessed, unhinged dentist—a major departure from her previous girl-next-door roles. A hair transformation made sense for the part, but she had to fight for it, calling it “not an easy battle” in a past interview.
Last year, the actress and haircare mogul discussed how she “fought for” that hair change in a Vanity Fair video revisiting some of her most notable roles.
“I wanted [my character] to look different,” she explains. “The studio’s argument—and I’m sorry to call you out—was, ‘We are afraid it won’t look like you.’ That’s kind of the point! I still think it might look a little bit like me. But I’m glad I fought for it and stuck to my guns.”
She added, “I was always seen as the girl next door or the ingenue. It was so fun to play something like this because it’s so far from anything that I am. That’s what the director liked. It’s so unexpected. That was the fun of it. That’s what made it more creatively exciting for me.”
“Would I ever go brunette?” Aniston repeats after her brief experiment with Cox. “Yes! Well, you saw that answer, right? Did that work?” She runs her hands over her head, jokingly calling her blonde hair “fake.”
The caption matched the playful tone: “Do blondes reeeaaalllyyy have more fun??”
In the ’90s, before Friends, Aniston kept her dark brunette hair in a classic ’90s side part with soft waves for films like Molloy, Ferris Bueller, and Leprechaun. Over the years, she gradually added blonde highlights, eventually establishing her iconic blonde look.
This isn’t the first time Cox has made a cameo on the LolaVie account, which Aniston founded in 2021. To celebrate her brand’s fourth anniversary, Aniston gave her fellow Friends alum a bouncy, Rachel-inspired blowout to fight frizz. Aniston’s boyfriend, Jim Curtis, has also appeared (only his second time on her grid) to smooth out his curly hair.
No matter the shade, Jennifer Aniston’s hairstyle is a lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Jennifer Aniston getting Courteney Cox to try a brunette look
General Questions
Q What is this about Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Coxs hair
A In a recent Instagram video Jennifer Aniston used a temporary hair color spray to give her longtime friend and former costar Courteney Cox a brunette look for a few moments just for fun
Q Where did this happen
A It was shared on Jennifer Anistons official Instagram account The video was filmed in what appears to be a casual private setting like a home
Q Why did Jen make Courteney go brunette
A It was purely for fun and nostalgia They were reminiscing and joking about their iconic Friends charactersJen as Rachel and Courteney as Monica
Specifics About the Look
Q Did Courteney Cox permanently dye her hair
A No not at all It was a temporary color spray that washes out easily It was just a quick playful experiment
Q What was the reaction to Courteney as a brunette
A Fans and media loved it Many comments said she looked amazing and that it was a fun nostalgic throwback to her natural and Friends era hair color
Q Was this a professional styling session
A No it was very casual Jen was literally just spraying color onto Courteneys hair over a sink It was an impromptu moment between friends
Deeper Questions Context
Q Is Courteney Coxs natural hair color brunette
A Yes Courteney Cox is a natural brunette She has been blonde for many years as part of her public image but this was a return to her roots literally and figuratively
Q Is there a deeper meaning to this video
A Beyond being a fun bit it highlights their enduring sisterlike friendship that has lasted decades since Friends It also plays into fan nostalgia for the show
Q Could this spark a trend of temporary hair color experiments among friends