Jennifer Aniston’s Hairdresser Reveals The Story Behind “The Rachel”

Summary

The Art of the Brand — Episode Summary

Episode: Jennifer Aniston’s Hairdresser Reveals The Story Behind “The Rachel”

Host: Third Eye Insights (Camille Moore and Phillip Millar)
Guest: Chris McMillan
Date: May 5, 2026

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1. Overview

This episode dives into the iconic story of “The Rachel” haircut as told by its creator, legendary hairdresser Chris McMillan. Blending branding insights and personal history, the discussion explores how Chris approaches styling celebrities, the impact of viral moments in hair culture, and the thoughtful development of his own haircare product line. Listeners get an inside look at how a signature style shapes pop culture, how real-life chemistry creates brand DNA, and what it takes to build both personal and product trust in a crowded market.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Chris McMillan’s Not-So-Celebrity Approach

• Chris doesn’t see himself as a "celebrity hairdresser"; he simply works in LA and happens to style celebrities (00:00).
• “I just happened to do celebrities.” (Chris McMillan, 00:04)

Hair as Confidence, Not Just Fashion

• Celebrities rely deeply on their hair, makeup, and wardrobe teams for confidence, which carries over to red carpet performances (07:48).
• Chris aims to ensure his clients feel comfortable and authentic (“The red carpet is the work.” 00:10, 20:22).
• “Fuck pretty. I want to be cute and sexy. That’s my formula.” (Chris McMillan, 00:10)

The Origins and Virality of “The Rachel”

• Traces the domino effect from Patricia Arquette’s French bob (his “first viral moment”, 10:09–12:07) leading to being introduced to Jennifer Aniston (12:26).
• “The Rachel” emerged not from a grand plan but from growing out Jen’s bangs and drawing on model Amber Valletta’s look (13:02).
• Why did it go viral? Jen’s approachability and the cut’s versatility for “the girl next door” (13:14).
• The cut “defined the 90s,” became the most requested style among stylists for years (13:56, 18:33).

The Culture of Hair Trends & Monoculture

• Chris and the hosts discuss the changing landscape from a “monoculture” in hair and fashion (when everyone wanted one look) to today’s fragmented styles, but note that certain trends (like “the bob”) still proliferate (14:43).
• “Monoculture is such an American kind of a thing.” (Chris McMillan, 15:02)

Product Philosophy: Simplicity and Professionalism

• Chris’s product line is designed for both pros and consumers—products he legitimately uses behind the chair (23:22).
• Simplicity is key; he wants to demystify haircare for clients overwhelmed by endless products and unclear instructions (26:01, 31:26).
• “I don't even know still to this day what a serum is for... and I’m really good at this.” (Chris McMillan, 31:35)

Development Process & Branding

• Chris details the challenging process of product development—especially “hundreds” of iterations for the perfect aerosol (25:32–26:34).
• Design reflects his laid-back, California/1970s aesthetic, and he was personally involved down to choosing the exact Pantone blue (29:53–31:13).
• Thanks his partner Kenny for business acumen, revealing insights into contracts, branding, and scaling up (36:19–39:11).

Maintaining Relevance & The Magic of Salon Culture

• Chris continues to cut hair “behind the chair,” believing this connection is his “secret sauce” and differentiator (35:19, 35:43).
• “The worst thing they could do is have me stop doing hair, because that's, I think, where the magic is.” (Chris McMillan, 35:32)
• He mentors young stylists to “take every call,” emphasizing the importance of real-life relationships over viral moments (55:09–55:59).

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The Rachel and Its Influence

• "Jen is a very relatable person... definitely that girl next door kind of a girl... It was a haircut length. It was like a Farrah Fawcett length." (Chris McMillan, 13:14)
• “People still to this day, they'll say, ‘Oh, I want... the Rachel.’ And when I say the Rachel... which season?” (Chris McMillan, 18:54)

Product Development & Philosophy

• “I just want to do a great hairspray. And I want products that you may not get it now, but they're going to help you in the future... They're always going to be around.” (Chris McMillan, 32:02)
• “Take every call because the call you don’t take is maybe the call you was the one.” (Chris McMillan, 55:48)

Celebrity Hair as Brand Strategy

• “Our mantra is... the red carpet is the work. That's the work. Tonight, the red carpet is the work.” (Chris McMillan, 20:21)
• "She’s always getting it out of her face and letting it fall in her face and then getting it back out... her hair is definitely part of her wardrobe. It’s part of her." (Chris McMillan, 19:38)

Branding and Authenticity

• "There needs to be some sense of realness of me that's in the DNA of it. I think DNA is a big part of it.” (Chris McMillan, 62:17)
• "For me, my brand is all things hair." (Chris McMillan, 62:42)

Humor & Humanity

• Chris joking about learning the hard way: “When I got sober, it was like a dumb moment. I just like to learn everything the hard way.” (57:09)
• Hilarious Canadian Tim Hortons confusion: “Once he took me to Jim Hortons, I was like, I thought it was... or Tim Hortons. Whatever.” (27:26)
• “You know, it's like watching the Super Bowl for me... Award season for someone like me is, like, watching the Super Bowl.” (Chris McMillan, 40:41)

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4. Important Segments & Timestamps

• Chris’s Philosophy & Brand Approach: 00:00–02:00
• Salon Process – Sectioning & Texture: 02:14–03:45
• From Patricia Arquette to Jennifer Aniston and “The Rachel”: 10:09–13:14
• Why “The Rachel” Became Iconic: 13:14–14:04
• Monoculture, Trends, and The Bob: 14:43–16:19
• Going Viral: White Lotus, SNL Skit: 15:54, 17:32
• Product Development Stories: 24:16–31:45
• Brand Packaging & Pantone Blues: 29:27–31:13
• Products for Real Life; “Chair Hair at Home”: 24:18, 49:47–50:56
• Launching a Brand—Reality and Surprises: 51:20–52:26
• Maintaining the Magic & Connecting in Real Life: 55:09–55:59
• What Brand Means; Authenticity and DNA: 62:17–64:46
• Chris’s Top 3 Essential Products: 65:14–66:19

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5. Practical Salon Tips Shared

• Breaking Hair into Sections: Eases the process, “It can be overwhelming to work with your hair all as one big piece.” (Chris McMillan, 02:39)
• The “Shake Your Head, Darling” Technique: For volume and that tousled, PC look (45:25).
• Day-Old, Beachy Hair at Home: “I want it to have that sort of beachy girl.” (Chris McMillan, 68:11)

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6. Closing Lessons & Takeaways

• Stay grounded, regardless of celebrity status—success comes from consistency, authenticity, and developing trust.
• True branding connects product innovation, professional heritage, and your own “DNA.”
• Don’t just chase “viral” moments—think about creating legacy products and nurturing direct client relationships.
• Your brand must be a living reflection of who you are, not just a design or trend.
• "Take every call... the call you don't take is maybe the call you was the one." (Chris McMillan, 55:48)

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7. Three Must-Have Products From Chris’s Line

1. Dry Texture Spray
2. Glassy Smooth Blow Dry Spray
3. Hairspray
   • “The three must haves... that’s from my perspective.” (Chris McMillan, 65:14)

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This episode is an invaluable listen for anyone interested in the fusion of style, branding authenticity, and product entrepreneurship—and especially for those who want to learn from one of the most influential hairdressers in pop culture history.

Transcript

[Chris McMillan]

I've never wanted to be a celebrity hairdresser, so I don't think of myself as a celebrity hairdresser.

[Interviewer]

You did.

[Chris McMillan]

I just happened to do celebrities.

[Interviewer]

Did you die when they did a Saturday Night Live skit on it?

[Chris McMillan]

The obvious is always an inspiration. Fuck pretty. I want to be cute and sexy. That's my formula. The red carpet is the work. Award season for someone like me is like watching the Super Bowl. And she said, I know it was a circus, but. But I thank you for being the ringleader. We're more than hairdressers, you know, we're confidants.

[Interviewer]

You're their people.

[Chris McMillan]

I'm not here thinking of viral moments. I'm here to make sure that the person going is really comfortable. And I don't want everything to go viral immediately. I want people to figure it out for themselves. Let's make a mood board of what Chris McMillan brand would look like. People don't know how much product to use in their hair. So it wasn't about what was missing. It was, how can we simplify it and make it easier for the consumer? Everyone needs hairspray. I just want to do a great hairspray.

[Interviewer]

How tough were you on the formula?

[Chris McMillan]

I don't think it as obsessive. It wasn't right. I love to learn the hard way. Love, love the answers. I know, I know everything from behind this chair. The secret sauce is also meeting people in real life. Take every call. So that's why I'm not in a hurry for everyone to fall in love with me. I want people to get to know me and learn me and be like, okay, when it comes to hair, I trust this guy. What a brand, what a brand, what

[Interviewer]

a brand, what a mighty brand. Say it again now.

[Chris McMillan]

What a brand, what a brand, what a brand.

[Interviewer]

What a mighty good friend.

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, what did you do to your hair this morning?

[Interviewer]

Nothing.

[Chris McMillan]

You curled it yesterday. Two days yesterday. Two days ago. I'm going to go through with a blow dryer.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

Real quick. So. So you can actually talk to me over the blow dryer.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

Like for a minute.

[Interviewer]

If you want it to be wet too. It can be wet. We can make me ugly for this.

[Chris McMillan]

No, let's do this. Your hair is good. It feels really nice. I just want to get the. The texture of your hair.

[Interviewer]

I feel like I'm going to the dentist and I'm like, look, I have no cavities. Doesn't it look healthy? Where are the Chris McMillan clips?

[Chris McMillan]

Right, that'll come because a clip is A big part of the consumer doing their hair. Like Chris McMillan, like, obviously the clip. I like to work in sections. So, like, once I've done this section, this section is done.

[Interviewer]

Oh, so you blow dry and cut first section.

[Chris McMillan]

No, I mean this as far as, like, the protection of this piece. So, like. Like, if it's done like that section is done. So then. You know what I mean. It can be overwhelming to work with your hair all as one big piece. But when you start breaking it down, like, that was the side front. This is the bang front. You know, you can start, like, separating it into the, like, meaningful pieces. This is the piece that's going to frame your face. And girls like you. I always kind of start off like Farrah Fosity, because she had the best hair.

[Interviewer]

The best hair.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Honestly, she's kind of the dream.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. Just a little bit longer.

[Interviewer]

Did you ever work on her hair?

[Chris McMillan]

Never. Oh, I never met her.

[Interviewer]

Never met her.

[Chris McMillan]

Never met her.

[Interviewer]

Who is one person whose hair you wish you could have worked on?

[Chris McMillan]

Farrah Fawcett.

[Interviewer]

That is it.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I mean, she had the ultimate hairs.

[Chris McMillan]

I would have done great. Because I got it.

[Interviewer]

You did get it.

[Chris McMillan]

Like, I got it.

[Interviewer]

What is a haircut you regret?

[Chris McMillan]

What's a haircut I regret? Oh, that's interesting. I kind of don't live in the world of regret.

[Interviewer]

No Rag Rats.

[Chris McMillan]

I did work on that movie. Yeah, the Millers. We were the Millers.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

Where that kid gets that tattoo across his chest.

[Interviewer]

No. Right. Honestly, I feel like it's a biblical statement for me. Like, I live in the no rag rats world.

[Chris McMillan]

That's so funny.

[Interviewer]

Is there a time period that you don't want to come back?

[Chris McMillan]

Listen, I. It's so funny. When I was in the 80s and 90s, when mullets were in, I was super anti mullet. Like, it just wasn't cool. But now I don't mind them, so there's that. Like, I never did mullets. I do do mullets now, but I never did a mullet back in the day. They were, like, tacky and like, lactase. Yeah. It was like, bad taste. It was like people I got. Never was into that.

[Interviewer]

Jacob Elordi kind of has a mullet.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, he. Well, they're like men now, sort of where it's like the flow.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

It's like the hall and Oats haircut. They all have that.

[Interviewer]

We call it back home. Hockey hair.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, it's full hockey hair. Never liked it. But now I'm like, some guys look really sexy with it.

[Interviewer]

I agree.

[Chris McMillan]

But it's also, like, I don't do it super short and then super long. It has, like, a sexy flow. Like, the guy that I train with has a great haircut that's, you know, shorter in the back or shorter in the front, longer in the back. It's all about proportions. Now you.

[Interviewer]

I saw you did a guy's hair on your page, and he was kind of reddish, and he had the birthday of your sober date. Who was that?

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, yeah, Jake.

[Interviewer]

And he kind of has that, like, modern mullet. But I loved the way you styled it.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, that's the kind of way it's more of a cut. Yeah, he. Jake had a good one.

[Interviewer]

I loved watching that. You make it look so easy to achieve the look.

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, it's because I've been doing it for so long. It's something that I do take for granted, especially teaching hair, like teaching assistants how to do hair. I forget how easy I make things look. I make it look easy, but it's because it's what we do. Anyone that does what they do is going to make it look easy.

[Interviewer]

Well, we need to today show me, like, exactly how much, because I think the biggest issue when I leave the chair is we use too much product at home.

[Chris McMillan]

What's really nice about the products that I created, like I said, going from pro to consumer, I really made sure that you don't have to jump in the shower after you're using my product.

[Interviewer]

It gets greasy because.

[Chris McMillan]

Because it's too easy to use too much product and make a mistake and have five minutes left. So I wanted everything to be, like, consumer friendly and consumer safe.

[Interviewer]

Well, let's maybe take a step back. So, Chris, like, who are you today? What is. How do you introduce yourself today?

[Chris McMillan]

And nothing's really changed. Basically, I'm a hairdresser. Number one. I do hair now that I've started a brand and I'm a celebrity hairdresser only by. By default, by living in Los Angeles and doing hair. You know, in Los Angeles, where a lot of celebrities reside and are always on the lookout for good hair. You know, you always want to have good hair, not bad hair. I think for celebrities, hair, makeup and wardrobe are. Become your family. You know, we become, you know, a necessity.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

You know, you always want to look your best, and that helps you in turn, as a celebrity, walk a red carpet, get in front of a camera with full confidence. And I just really feel that what we do is we keep that confidence level up there, all of us, from what we do, yeah. You know, it's keeping people feel confident about themselves enough to, like, walk a red carpet. Because I couldn't imagine. One thing I don't like to do is be in front of a camera.

[Interviewer]

Really?

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. I like being behind the camera. So this right now is weird. The world that we are in now, which I know we're gonna, like, parlay into that. The world then, and the world now is the world then. It didn't require a celebrity hairdresser to be in front of a camera.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

It required the hairdresser that does celebrities, you know, doing cool hair. And I came in when celebrities started showing up on the covers of magazines.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

So that's kind of like in the 90s. It's. You looked at Vogue. You looked at. I mean, Gwyneth Paltrow was the first. I think it was Gwyneth Paltrow or Nicole Kidman, I can't remember. I think it was Gwyneth Paltrow, first celebrity. When Anna Wintour started putting celebrities on

[Interviewer]

the covers, did he do the first one?

[Chris McMillan]

I did not. But, you know, that was amazing.

[Interviewer]

When was your first, like, cover moment?

[Chris McMillan]

My first cover moment that I got was. I mean, this was a pivotal moment was Christian Slater for the COVID of Detour magazine. Shot by Greg Gorman, styled by Vivian Turner, hair and makeup by me. It was supposed to be a portrait for inside the magazine, only he was. He did a movie, a Tony Scott movie called True Romance with Patricia Arquette. Ended up being the COVID and, like, eight pages inside.

[Interviewer]

Wow.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, it was a big success. And then I did the press junket with him because he loved his hair, and I basically made him look like a fucked up version of, like, Elvis Presley and James Dean. Because when do you not turn a guy into Elvis Presley or James Dean? The best hair ever. These guys were, you know, and he had that sort of vibe about him anyways, so I kind of leaned into that. I was sleeping when I was like, 18 years old. Well, maybe not sleeping, but with Patricia Arquette's younger brother. So I knew Patricia Arquette. So when I was doing Christian's hair on the press junket, I saw Patricia and we kind of like, oh, hey, hey, how are you? Da, da da da. And then they booked me to do the press junket abroad, and I did Patricia and Christian's hair and makeup, both of them. And when we were in France, I gave Patricia a French girl, bob. So really that's like the first viral moment that I had with hair was Patricia Arquette in Paris. Yeah. I Went to the pharmacy, bought a box that had a. I didn't read French, but it had a picture of a girl with the same color as Patricia. So I just figured I'd be okay. Was a guessing game.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

I did her roots and cut her hair into like a little, like little bob.

[Interviewer]

And it went super viral.

[Chris McMillan]

And the next day, it was on the COVID of the newspaper that Patricia Arquette embraces her French girl style.

[Interviewer]

Oh, cool.

[Chris McMillan]

So I'm always, I'm very. Like, the obvious is always sort of an inspiration. Like, being in Paris is inspiring.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

So, like, when I'm talking with Patricia, I was like, let's do a French girl bob. And she's all down for it. Like. Yeah. And it worked. And that was kind of my very first viral haircut was that.

[Interviewer]

And that's where you got the domino effect, because Patricia did the intro for the Friends pilot.

[Chris McMillan]

Molly Madden, who is Patricia Arquette's manager, was managing Jennifer Aniston at the time. She was like, oh, I have this guy, he's really good. You should let him cut your hair. And how I met Jennifer and the rest was history. Well, and Jennifer would just. She was a girl. She had bangs and had never blown out her hair. Really. And, you know, I gave her a blowout and a haircut and, you know, I was like, basically it was just growing her bangs. I basically made her look like Amber Valletta in a Gucci campaign.

[Interviewer]

I saw that. That was your inspiration.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. You can you keep your legs.

[Interviewer]

I know.

[Chris McMillan]

Just for now.

[Interviewer]

I will.

[Chris McMillan]

Just for now.

[Interviewer]

So when, like, why do you think that went so viral?

[Chris McMillan]

The Rachel Jen is a very relatable person. She's a very relatable girl. I think people look at her and relate to her immediately. You know, she's definitely that girl next door kind of a girl. I didn't cut her hair short, but it was still long. But it was kind of here. It was like. It was a haircut length. It was like a Farah Fawcett length.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

You know what I mean? It was like, it was. It was a mid length cut that wasn't too short, was not too long. It had layers. Layers in a new way. Not layers. Short in the front and long in the back, but kind of like longer in the front. And then the back was giving you something.

[Interviewer]

I feel like it defined the 90s.

[Chris McMillan]

Like, that really did. It really had. Yeah. The deep side part.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

Are you okay if I take a couple inches off?

[Interviewer]

Do you.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Tell you what to do?

[Chris McMillan]

No, it's good.

[Interviewer]

I can't. We got to make the Camille. We just have to hope it get catches on.

[Chris McMillan]

The Camille is just a healthy head of hair. Pretty hair, because you have pretty color.

[Interviewer]

I know. She does a great job.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, no, your color's really pretty.

[Interviewer]

And this is old. I'm getting it touched up next week. She's amazing. Her name's Pink leblanc. She's out of Montreal.

[Chris McMillan]

Pink leblanc?

[Interviewer]

Yeah. It's wicked.

[Chris McMillan]

I love that name.

[Interviewer]

I know. She's a vibe. Super, super talented. So you actually shaped monoculture, which is crazy to think about now, because what's monoculture? When, like, everybody wants the same.

[Chris McMillan]

Sure.

[Interviewer]

Like, there's one. And that's what makes kind of the world today.

[Chris McMillan]

It will. It's kind of where things used to be because, like, in the 50s, everybody kind of wore the same hairstyle.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, it was.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. Monoculture is such an American kind of a thing.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

I think monoculture still exists because then whenever I go to Paris, I always look at shoes, and everyone is always wearing the same shoe in Europe.

[Interviewer]

Oh, interesting.

[Chris McMillan]

Like, it was Veja for a long time.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, Forever.

[Chris McMillan]

Well, before Veja, it was Stan Smith's. Everybody wore the white Stan Smith.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

With the green. And now it's Solomon.

[Interviewer]

Yep.

[Chris McMillan]

Before that, it was New Balance.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And that's such a monoculture approach to style. Hermes, Birkin.

[Interviewer]

But when you think about.

[Chris McMillan]

Though. But hair for sure, has. Is part of that culture. Hair is for sure part of monoculture. The Bob.

[Interviewer]

The Bob. Oh, my God. You know, we'll talk about that because you recently went viral again with the. The country Bob.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. That's funny.

[Interviewer]

What happened? Tell me that story.

[Chris McMillan]

Well, I didn't cut her hair.

[Interviewer]

What did you do?

[Chris McMillan]

I grew it in to that cut. She had short hair.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

And so that was just us cutting the back until the bangs caught up to, like, the like. So that was just that. And it just simultaneously happened that, you know her character. The cut. And that character was cunty.

[Interviewer]

Totally.

[Chris McMillan]

You know what I mean? That was such a cunty character.

[Interviewer]

But how, like, did you guys plan it with the script? Like, what was the story? No.

[Chris McMillan]

Well, you guys, to remember this. So I know Mike White only because he did the Good Girl with Jennifer Aniston.

[Interviewer]

Oh, yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

So I knew him way back when. So him and I were friends. And I knew that White Lotus. That script was not floating around to the hairdressers doing the hair on his cast fair. That was on lockdown.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

That script was on lockdown. So there was no like discussion of anyone's hair because nobody could know what was happening, what was happening.

[Interviewer]

So it's perfect.

[Chris McMillan]

So it was real. It was a real. That was a real moment like that, you know, that wasn't planned there. Was it just. I think it's just called good casting, good acting. It's like the Rachel. It was just like the character. Everything fit from head to toe.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And that's all that is. It just worked.

[Interviewer]

Did you die when they did a Saturday Night Live skit on it?

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, that was funny.

[Interviewer]

Did you die?

[Chris McMillan]

Well, I was. That was a Sunday, obviously. And I wake up at like 4:30 in the morning. So I saw it immediately. My phone was flooded with. With that. The little Bob. Army. Army brigade. Brigade. Bob Gade.

[Interviewer]

Do you know what's crazy is years ago I was in a salon, a really. A salon I really respect. And I was asking about why Jen created a hair care line. And the stylist said to me, she goes, did you know that Jennifer Aniston is the most cited hair inspiration, like, individual of all time? Like all stylists have received photos of her as the most inspo for haircuts of all time. And I remember thinking, whoever that stylist is, this was like five, six years ago. Whoever that stylist is should have a hair care line because what an iconic story. That.

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, yeah. That's fun.

[Interviewer]

So for you.

[Chris McMillan]

I never thought of it in that sense, but. But yeah, she definitely like people still to this day, they'll say, oh, I want. Whether it's like the Rachel. And when I say the Rachel, I say, but I have to say what season?

[Interviewer]

Yeah, which one?

[Chris McMillan]

Which season? Yeah, because her hair. Well, I will always evolve as a hairdresser. And you know, she will always evolve too. Even though it doesn't look like Jennifer Aniston's evolved, her hair just always looks good.

[Interviewer]

Always looks good.

[Chris McMillan]

That's all it is. We just always. And that's like when I was saying these celebrities, all of them, it's like they all look good. You know what I mean? Like, there's just something about the combination of Jennifer and I is. She does. She's not going to wear a slick back on the red carpet. She's not going to wear a low bun with little tendrils hanging out. She used to. She wears her hair.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And she touches it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And she moves it. Yeah. She's always getting it out of her face and letting it fall in her face and then getting it back out of her face. So her hair is like Definitely part of her wardrobe. It's part of her. And having that loose, natural feeling just makes her more approachable, makes her more relatable, makes her more of, like, a real person. Our sort of, like, mantra is when it comes to the red carpet and when she goes out is the red carpet is the work. That's the work. Tonight, the red carpet is the work.

[Interviewer]

Tell me more.

[Chris McMillan]

What does that mean? Once. That means that's where they're going to scream at you, the energy. They're going to see you. They're going to see what you're wearing, see what you're doing with your hair. Do you see what you do with your makeup? When you're done with that red carpet, you get to breathe.

[Interviewer]

Got it? That's the scrutiny.

[Chris McMillan]

That's the moment. So what we like to do is we know the red carpet's there, but I want Jennifer to be able to go pee in her dress after the red carpet, because guess what? She's going to have to go pee. Yeah. And so everything is based on after the red carpet, when I'm in a room and with. I'm gonna see all these people. I'm gonna see Anthony, I'm gonna see Camille, I'm gonna see Jasmine, I'm gonna see Kenny. I'm gonna be so excited. I get to see all my favorite people.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And that's what I want to look. That's where I want to look good. And most of the time, I want people to say, I fucking should have worn what Jennifer Aniston wore tonight. She is so comfortable. She is moving through this room with ease. There's this weird, like, aura over here. She's, like, sexy. She's cute. Maybe pulling the dress down, maybe her boobs, whatever. Nothing major. Everything's locked into place. Everything's good. I can go to the bathroom. Like, I'm gonna be good. I can put my lips. Like. That's what I want to look like. And that's what we focus on is, like, I want to have fun tonight. I don't want to be. I want to see everyone. And I want to look super cute and super sexy. Fuck. Pretty. I want to be cute and sexy, Lived in. So we always think cute and sexy. Cute and sexy, cute and sexy. And I think that's my formula for people on a red carpet. Cute and sexy, you know? Sure. A slick back is awesome. It's one less thing to worry about that night, you know what I mean? Your hair. Jen likes to hide behind her hair. Goldie Hawn likes to hide behind her hair. There are certain people that have always. Vera Fawcett always lived behind her hair.

[Interviewer]

I love to hide behind my hair too.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. Like some people slick back and you know, that's their, you know, Sarah Jessica loves to hide behind her hair, but she also loves a slick back.

[Interviewer]

She does both. She rocks both so well.

[Chris McMillan]

She's just the coolest human being on the face of the earth.

[Interviewer]

Did you take. So taking that being your approach, is that what you tuck into your product line? Is this cute and sexy lived in idea?

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, yeah. I work here and everybody says, oh my God, I love my hair. How can I do this myself? And so I just made products. So this drawer right here. Yes, I can say like this drawer has like 40 things in it and I grab five to seven of them every time, every day. Most of the other stuff I don't touch.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

So I just kind of created off of what I use. Yeah. My go to products, which is always a dry texture spray, which is always a hairspray in curly hair. I always use mousse and gel with slick backs. I always use gel and hairspray. I always use on all guys like a balm or a paste. I created a balm because I always take paste and oil and mix them, which is my balm and the paste in an oil, it's. It's basically a paste in an oil mix. So I always take two products. Like my dry texture spray is dry shampoo and texture spray. And I spray them simultaneously.

[Interviewer]

Oh, cool.

[Chris McMillan]

So I would always like do one first and then one next. So I just created them into one product.

[Interviewer]

Cool.

[Chris McMillan]

My hairspray is, you know, consumer friendly. That's basically what I did.

[Interviewer]

Chair hair at home.

[Chris McMillan]

Chair hair at home.

[Interviewer]

So how tough were you on the formula? Were you obsessive?

[Chris McMillan]

I was obsessive. I really was. I don't think it as obsessive. It wasn't right.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, no.

[Chris McMillan]

Let's just get it right. Like it wasn't there. If it was right, right off of the bat, I would have said, this is right. But it wasn't.

[Interviewer]

How many iterations did you go through which product?

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, the balm, they is the first product we made and it was super innovative because I didn't want it greasy and heavy and I wanted it to disappear. So the ask was big. So the lab that we were working with and the chemist that we were working with, this, my, my lab technicians, Gloria, she got it like, you know, she. She came here, she met me, she hung out here hours on end. She watched me work. It's not like she met me blindly, you know, they did the work, we did the work.

[Interviewer]

Cool.

[Chris McMillan]

This looks good, huh? Doesn't that length feel better?

[Interviewer]

Feels so good.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. I mean, it's nothing major. I'm just giving you a cleanup that you needed.

[Interviewer]

I feel like this is major for me. I'm. I'm thriving right now.

[Chris McMillan]

Our aerosols, hundreds of iterations. Another aerosol. Yeah, they. It was like 39 to 40, up to 43 different routes. Because we had one in Canada, they couldn't get it after 30. Then we switched to another one, another 30. Now, lastly, you found one Ford, and they got it after, like, 40.

[Interviewer]

Wow.

[Chris McMillan]

Aerosols are a funny business. It's a whole nother world.

[Interviewer]

Why?

[Chris McMillan]

Because. So aerosols are 80% done.

[Interviewer]

Tell me more. What does that mean?

[Chris McMillan]

Everything in an aerosol is already kind of done. It's there, 80% of it. It's the gas, it's the everything. That's it.

[Interviewer]

What makes it 20 is the product.

[Chris McMillan]

The 20% is me. It could. You can go bug spray, you can go cleaner, you can go. But 80% is there. So you can turn it into bugs. Like, I got some. So we were working with. In Canada, we were working with this aerosol group because aerosol is a very dangerous product to make. I bet you didn't know that.

[Interviewer]

I did not know that.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, it's a very dangerous. So you have to work. Aerosols are done in three parts of this country. They're not. Aerosol plants aren't everywhere because there's. It's made with gas, and there can be explosions, and it could get very dangerous.

[Interviewer]

But there's a lot of aerosols. So they.

[Chris McMillan]

There is a lot of aerosols.

[Interviewer]

So it's an oligarchy.

[Chris McMillan]

It's an oligarchy. It's an interesting world.

[Interviewer]

So you went to all three of the mistresses. You went to the three main ones.

[Chris McMillan]

We went to all of them. Even in Canada. If you get it right in Canada, you're good for the world.

[Interviewer]

Why?

[Chris McMillan]

Because Canada has the strictest rules.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, we do. Health Canada.

[Chris McMillan]

So. Especially for aerosol. So if you get it right in Canada, you're good when you launch Europe.

[Interviewer]

But. But you got it right in Florida.

[Chris McMillan]

We got it right in Canada, which got it right in Florida.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. Canada. The guy was like. Once he took me to Jim Hortons, I was like, I thought it was. Or Tim Hortons. Whatever.

[Interviewer]

No, Jim Hortons is iconic.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. He was like, we don't know anything. And he goes, oh, do you guys want to go to Jim Hortons? And we're thinking it's something really nice. And we're like, yeah. And we get into his truck and I get into the backseat of his truck and he takes us to a drive through of a Tim Hortons.

[Interviewer]

You have no idea how I like. That is like a sacrilegious statement. Like Tim Horton. Tim is. Is a. Is a patron day saint in Canada.

[Chris McMillan]

No, it was a Jim. Jim Tim. No, it was great. The experience was awesome.

[Interviewer]

That was like. That was fucking amazing. Where was. It was like in Windsor. Was it? Do you know where it was?

[Chris McMillan]

It was in scary.

[Interviewer]

It was scary.

[Chris McMillan]

It was scary where it was.

[Interviewer]

Was it Vaughn?

[Chris McMillan]

We didn't even get out of the car to go in. I wouldn't even known what to get.

[Interviewer]

That was a Jim Morton's that if it was one of the rough ones,

[Chris McMillan]

it was a rough one.

[Interviewer]

Do you remember like where did you fly in? Was it in Ontario?

[Chris McMillan]

No, we flew in to Toronto. Where was it, Kenny? Brampton. Brampton, yeah, that's where we were. We went to Brampton. One of my samples came in bug spray can.

[Interviewer]

That's hilarious.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, because they didn't have like regular cans, but I wanted to try the formula. So they said, are you okay if it comes in? And I was like, oh, I don't care what it comes in. We're not looking at actuators yet. We're just looking at formula right now.

[Interviewer]

Cool.

[Chris McMillan]

So that we. Yeah, I got like bug spray Raid.

[Interviewer]

That's amazing.

[Chris McMillan]

It was like, Ray, I was spraying Raid in your hair.

[Interviewer]

I mean, if it works, I'm kind of. Yeah, like I'm here for it. So what about design? How. How long did it take you to get the design? Because I love your brand packaging.

[Chris McMillan]

You're so sweet. So the design, that was actually super easy. Believe it or not, he's having amnesia. We were having several branding agencies prior to Lightning in a Bottle because nobody got Chris. They would just present a logo and basic seraphim. And Chris would always say like, this doesn't feel special. It doesn't feel me. And he's like, I'm upside down and backwards.

[Interviewer]

So when you finally landed on the person, she was perfect.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, she was perfect. She really just like she delivered. First round that she delivered. Was it color?

[Interviewer]

I love the blue.

[Chris McMillan]

And the color also.

[Interviewer]

I love the blue. The blue is my favorite part. Yeah, it's a money blue.

[Chris McMillan]

We brought the pantone plastic color wheel that we bought for A lot of money. And they make them in each color. So it's like, I think they're like $2,500 a wheel. And we bought the blue wheel and we would literally take that wheel with us to Sephora to. We took it to Canada. We looked at it in every lighting possible.

[Interviewer]

Canadian light.

[Chris McMillan]

We did. We took it to everywhere. We narrowed it down and then we were to like 10. And then we were able to like take those 10. Like, it's looking pretty. I like the layers.

[Interviewer]

Me too.

[Chris McMillan]

I like the choppy. Slightly choppy. Because your hair goes thinner anyways.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Chris McMillan]

So you're fine.

[Interviewer]

I kind of love this idea of you guys in a Jim Mortens and like holding up the blue swatch and the light. Like, how is it going to look in the Canadian Sephora? We must. Perfect.

[Chris McMillan]

We definitely were having fun with that. That was. Those were the fun days. They weren't stressful like they are now.

[Interviewer]

Why did you finally get into product? What pushed you to say there's a gap in the market?

[Chris McMillan]

The gap in the market is me standing here and a client asking me what do I need for my hair and my own hair salon. I'm overwhelmed by all the products. So it wasn't about what was missing. It was, how can we simplify it that something that's gotten so overwhelming that I don't even know what to use anymore is what serum for? I mean, I don't even know still to this day what a serum is for. Is it for my scalp? Is it for my hair? Is it to grow it? Is it to add shine? Like, what is that serum for? Like, I was confused and I'm really good at this. Yeah, I'm like a product whore. So like the overwhelming world. So it really wasn't about, like, what was missing. It was more about how I can simplify it and make it easier for the consumer and make it easier for me to give to my client. The products that I make are products that I use and hairdressers use. So they're more like, you know, people do gimmicky products and they go viral, but then they like something else comes up. I want heritage products, products that like, everyone needs hairspray. I just want to do a great hairspray. And I want products that you may not get it now, but they're going to help you in the future. So they're always going to be around. They're like, oh, that. Right. That blow dry spray, that heat protecting blow dry spray that Chris McMullen did for that Fucking blowout. That's. I need that and I need it everywhere. I need it in all my bathrooms. I need it in travel size. I need it because not because oh it looks so cool and not because oh my God it smells so good but because it actually really worked well.

[Interviewer]

That's actually what I like about the way that you communicate your products is it's the two things if they had a baby like you're.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You talked about in one when I was doing research. One of your products is the, the wow Dream coat. And what was the other product that you married?

[Chris McMillan]

It's so it's like color. It's. It's my glassy blow dry spray and it really is. It's about a product that. So all those blow dry products that I would use, I would use thickening spray by Bumble and Bumble. I would use Royal Blowout by Oribe and I love all products. So I love the thickening spray by Bumble and Bumble which is a prep spray. I would spray it into like for instance Jennifer Aniston's hair and I realized it's perfect to take extensions out because when she was had some extensions in her hair I would use it to blow dry her hair and it would pull the extensions out.

[Interviewer]

Oh.

[Chris McMillan]

So I was like well now I'm not going to use it for blow dries but it's great for removing extensions hair. So. And then the royal blowout was too greasy but I did get a shiny smooth hair. But then it was like I could feel it in the hair and then I finally like. And then Dream coat came out. I kind of. I like professional products. It's a little tacky looking but oh my God, this stuff works. Until it didn't. And I used to too much accidentally or I used it on fine hair and the hair felt gummy.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And it like I needed to rinse the hair out so I really wanted to like master it and make it. So like if you did use too much and that's a big thing. People don't know how much product to use in their hair. That's a consumer. A big, big consumer. The fact that I cut hair and work in a hair salon has. Is really the different. There's two things. It's a lot of hairdresser brand founders that do hair stop doing hair to focus on the brand.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

It's a very common thing and I get it. My brand would love me to stop doing hair and focus on the brand selfishly.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

But they don't need. But the worst thing they could do is have me stop doing hair, because that's, I think, where the. The magic is.

[Interviewer]

And then that's your difference.

[Chris McMillan]

It is, it's the magic is the

[Interviewer]

you in the game.

[Chris McMillan]

What's that?

[Interviewer]

It keeps you in the game.

[Chris McMillan]

It's just. It's. It's really important. So. I am also weirdly special by not leaving the brand, not leaving, doing what I do to focus on the brand. But I'm definitely, like, hiring people around me. Like, Kenny is the secret sauce behind the business of the brand, you know, because Kenny, I got really lucky that. So basically what happened was I was. There was a contract for me to do a brand and make money on a, you know, another, like, million dollar contract for four years. I don't. I just look at the numbers of, like, when are they depositing? You get paid quarterly, once a year. And from the your brand deal, your contract they deposit. I just want to know, like, what day are they depositing it in the bank? That's what I want to know. Because I have a guest bathroom I'd like to redo, you know, And Kenny, I started dating Kenny, and Kenny said, can I look? How pretty can I look at this contract? And it was like, you know, he's not a hairdresser. He's a businessman. He, you know, he's in property development. He graduated USC business school. Like, he knew. So if anybody. It's not like I was reading the contract. It's not like, you know, have my lawyer look at it. You know, I'm just looking at the money.

[Interviewer]

Perfect, so we'll get this on this day. And then. So then what happened?

[Chris McMillan]

And so he just said, listen, you have such a nice life. Is this money really gonna make? Like, are you in debt? Like, do you need this money that bad? I was like, no, it just makes life easier.

[Interviewer]

You know, it's just nice to have.

[Chris McMillan]

It's just nice to have, you know, the drunk elephant contract over Covid was the greatest thing in the world. You know what I mean? And so he's like, why don't you do your own thing? And to me, what that looked like, I was like, you know, I've done, like, living proof. I did drunk elephant. I did a QVC stent one time. Like, I put my toe in the water of it. And he's like, why don't you do your own thing? And I was like, like, first of all, I wouldn't. Like, I don't have time. I'm super busy. And he goes. And I was Just like, I wouldn't even know where to start. And he. He was. He's so smart. He goes, look how pretty. Just pretty hair. That's all I want on you is pretty hair. I'm not trying to read. And he goes, okay, let's start here. What would it look like? And I was like, oh, that's good. Let's make a storyboard. So we just like. Let's make a mood board of what Chris McMillan brand would look like. That is fun. That's like a 70s Porsche ad. Let's pull that out. Let's. Let's pull, you know, old 70s ads. Let's Avedon pictures of hair flying through the air. You know what I mean? Mia Farrow with her little short haircut. You know, anything like Farrah Fawcett. Anything 70s that. Like the Farrah Fawcett poster. Like, let's just start, like, what.

[Interviewer]

Because Your brand is so 70s, the. The rolling of the letter.

[Chris McMillan]

Well, it's also. Hair was really good in the 70s.

[Interviewer]

Everything was better in the 70s.

[Chris McMillan]

70s was really good. There was like such a great.

[Interviewer]

Especially in California.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. And I'm very California. I'm very la.

[Interviewer]

You're a California guy.

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, I jumped in the ocean at 6:30, like this morning.

[Interviewer]

Too cold for me as a Canadian, so. You are a crazy man.

[Chris McMillan]

It was freezing. My toes are just now warming up.

[Interviewer]

But I bet you feel great.

[Chris McMillan]

It was nice. It was a nice thing to do for today. For sure.

[Interviewer]

Especially for me putting you on the hot seat.

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, I don't mind.

[Interviewer]

And you've got a big haircut today too, Right. Who are you cutting for a Golden Globes today?

[Chris McMillan]

It's. I'll be working with the Spielbergs, which is different. It was. I was. Michelle Williams is nominated. She's not going because she's prepping for a play.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

So she had me on hold and took me off. Jennifer had me on hold. Was not sure if she was. She wasn't nominated. So there's that. Mariska Hargitay was going to present.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And so that was a Done deal. And then she was like, I'm not coming. I'm not coming to la. So. But what I did do, if you saw my Instagram, is last week, I cut and colored Nikki Glaser's hair. I cut and colored Nikki. And we talked a lot about tonight.

[Interviewer]

I'm excited for her.

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, so much.

[Interviewer]

Are you gonna watch?

[Chris McMillan]

Am I? Yeah, a hundred percent. It's like watching the super bowl for me. I bet this is award season for Someone like me is, like, watching the super bowl. And this year is really nice because, you know, I'm not all freaking out about who I did and if they did okay and if they look okay. I was on hold for Rose Burns, but we couldn't give her an answer fast enough, and she needs that. They need answers, these celebrities, when they're presenting and accepting and nominating.

[Interviewer]

It's a big deal.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. And, like, going back to, like, their comfort zone on the red carpet.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. I have two questions. First is when you said, like, it's. You have stress. Has someone. Someone's hair not held up on the red carpet when you've done it?

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, listen.

[Interviewer]

Oh, no.

[Chris McMillan]

I always hate everything I do.

[Interviewer]

Oh, yeah, Always.

[Chris McMillan]

There's. Oh, I'm always like, I could have done this or I could have done that. And that's just how I am. Like, I could have added more hair to Sarah Jessica for the Golden Globe for the Carol Burnett. You know what I mean? Should have. I added more and made it to her butt and made it bigger and made it, you know, always. You can and just always know. Elevate, elevate, elevate. She though, was with her husband. She was with her son. So it was. I got four people ready in a room in two hours. So she was perfect.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

For her and for that night. And she looked fabulous.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, she looked great.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, she did.

[Chris McMillan]

You know, and what she loves about what I do to her hair. I'm her backup hairdresser, by the way. Surges Normont is her number one. I'm on loan.

[Interviewer]

You're the mistress.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. And. But it was us, like, getting her son and getting her husband ready for the red carpet. And you wouldn't know this, but they were there with her.

[Interviewer]

I saw them. It was a few days ago.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. Yeah. And that meant a lot to her. And then to have them feel comfortable to go with her to an event, my touch on them meant a lot to her, which set her up for the night. So it didn't matter what she looked like always. That's just a plus. The whole feeling of getting them out there and the. That's what it was. And she said, I know. She left me a message, and she said, I know it was a circus, but I thank you for being the ringleader. So, like, that in itself is just sort of like. So, yeah. What we're gonna see tonight is there's so many factors that go into. Into stepping out on the red carpet for whatever reason, but it is a confidence level. And I'm not here thinking of viral moments. I'm here to make sure that the person going is really comfortable, because I know I would be a. Unless I had, like, a really good outfit that was just giving. But if my tits and ass were hanging out, like, forget it. Like, I'm naked with a little pair of panties on. Like, 90 of the girls in the last two years, I'd be just like, you know, oh, my God, my hair better be on point. Dakota Johnson gets it good. She can be naked, and her hair is great. I love her. Hairdresser Mark Townsend.

[Interviewer]

When you talked about us talking today, there's, like, pro lines and there's regular lines. What are the difference between the two?

[Chris McMillan]

Pro lines are obviously a little stronger and for professionals, but I'm really like, my. I'm really about. Because I am a professional hairdresser. I'm a pro, and I'm giving it to the consumer. So I'm really focused on. I've never wanted to be a celebrity hairdresser, so I don't think of myself as a celebrity hairdresser.

[Interviewer]

You did.

[Chris McMillan]

I just happen to do celebrities, and the celebrities I do are pretty famous. Jennifer Aniston is super duper famous. But if you met her, it would be like meeting me, a normal person. You'd be like, oh, my God, I get it. Yeah. You know, there's something about you that demands, but you're like, she's so normal.

[Interviewer]

It's a good visual. Is that how you get the Rachel, the tousled look?

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, that's. This is really what we do.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Like, yeah, look how PC it gets.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, it just does.

[Interviewer]

I feel like you should create a protocol for that. You have, like, all these girls whipping their head around.

[Chris McMillan]

Well, it really is. Well, well, what's his name did it. There's a book called shake your head darling by Jose E. Bear.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And he would do everyone's hair upside down. So there was like. He would take everyone's hair upside down, spray it, bring them up, and their hair would be like this. And then he'd style it from there.

[Interviewer]

Cool.

[Chris McMillan]

You know, that's kind of my look. There's also, like. There's like, so many little tricks that you can do. Like, I'll show you the drawer. Watch. I know the drawer. So, like, for example, that's about. Okay, so upside down. This was Jose Ebert. So he would take hair. This is like the 70s was this. It's like they took the hair and they would do put Shaker head, darling. So he would Take hair. This is where I. Because I was obsessed with the guy with the cowboy hat and the ponytail down the back of his head. Like, I was obsessed with him. Like, you know, so he would do this, and he would put your head upside down because. And I have the book, by the way, at the house. Shake your head, darling. I actually have clients in it. So he would do this and then throw your hair back. Watch. Throw your hair back. And then you have that full, like. You know what I mean?

[Interviewer]

All hair.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. You have that look. Like it worked. And, like, you do this, the reveal in a hair salon, and you got it. And then in the 80s, what we did is we became and started doing this. We started taking the hair and, like, and going back with it. But you had back here. And we would spray it off the face like this. And then all of a sudden, you have that 80s.

[Interviewer]

Oh, yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

You know what I mean? Yeah. And then you would, like, do, like, next thing you know, you're like. So then you're this. Yeah. And then now. And then what I did is like, I do this one. So I like, split the hair down the middle. I do this side, and I lift everything up so you get all the little ends right here. And then I like it to fall in front. And then I take. Because we like hair around the face. I take this. These little sections around the face and do that. And then here you have that sort of that look that totally.

[Interviewer]

That's totally your look.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, you have like, Claudia Schiffer meets Jennifer Aniston. Because trust me, Jennifer Aniston's inspiration came from the magazines. Yeah, it was super models. Yeah. It came from the supermodels. It came from a photo shoot in a magazine. It came from.

[Interviewer]

Well, that was old school inspo. You couldn't, like, save on your phone magazine.

[Chris McMillan]

No, I still have tear sheets. But, like, see, then you get like, you look like a guest jeans campaign. Now.

[Interviewer]

Let's go.

[Chris McMillan]

You know, and then now I think this, like, who doesn't love love, you know, when we love, like, that face framing layer thing.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Chris McMillan]

So it's all. It's all about styling. It's. It's. And then this product is nice because it's layering into the hair, but you don't feel like you're stuck with that hairstyle. And I've, you know, I can use as much as I want look. It's just. It's soft.

[Interviewer]

Cool.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. This is the. The product that will be a heritage product that will go down in history, like, as a Go to, like, oh, the hair's not doing what I need it to do. I always pull this out if I'm on a shoot and the hair is flat and it needs to look bigger. It's automatically, throw your hair in rollers. Use this. I mean, it gives that. That sort of lived in. It gives, like, full, like, feel your hair there.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Wow.

[Chris McMillan]

This is like a dry shampoo.

[Interviewer]

So if you buy one and you only buy one, it's this one.

[Chris McMillan]

I mean, this is such a great product. It just is. And I don't want everything to go viral immediately. I want people to figure it out for themselves. I want people to discover they're like, oh, I really like this one. But they're gonna. That's gonna happen with all these products. It's a little overwhelming that we launched with seven main products. You know? Why? I still don't know. It's like, kind of a mystery to me how we got there. It really is. It never was. I was always like, drop with an oil. That's what everybody always would say to me. You just need to do, like, a. An oil. You need to do a serum.

[Interviewer]

And then.

[Chris McMillan]

And it's just. This is kind of what happened. I kind of love that you dropped it basically at full line.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

But they're all usable, real products. So now what I do is, like, get on in there. Like, when you do your skin, you're not just like, okay, good.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

When you're doing your skin routine, because that's the word that goes with your skin is what's your routine? Like? You're getting it all in there. You're layering those serums in. You're layering those products in your face. You know what I mean? Same with hair.

[Interviewer]

You're gonna be able to see me from space. My hair is gonna be so big.

[Chris McMillan]

I'm here for it. Like,

[Interviewer]

what has been the hardest thing about launching a brand?

[Chris McMillan]

Launching a brand.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

That's the hardest part. That's the art.

[Interviewer]

What are you shocked about?

[Chris McMillan]

If you think there's key words, there's like, next steps was the first word that we. That I learned in the world of being a brand owner. Because everything is next steps, no matter who you're talking to.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. What are the next steps?

[Chris McMillan]

Whether I'm talking to you, whether I'm talking to Anthony, whether I'm talking to a D, whether I'm talking to the chemist, whether I'm talking to Sephora. It's always like, next steps. So that is a super key word and will be Fluid throughout the whole entire career of this brand. Next steps. So just because we launched, that just means we launched.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

What's the next step after launching? You know, our next launch? It never stops. You never rest. It's real.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Chris McMillan]

It's for real. And if you want it for real, then you'll make it for real. If. If you think that it's going to do itself just because you're a fabulous hairdresser and you do Jennifer Aniston's hair, you're wrong. It's not gonna do itself because someone else is gonna be there doing it.

[Interviewer]

Well, I think that's the thing that people miss, is they think, like, if I could just only go viral if I just only had this. But it's.

[Chris McMillan]

It's not that viral is. Is just a word. But they're so fleeting moments now. Especially because we all live in our phones and we all live in.

[Interviewer]

We're distracted.

[Chris McMillan]

You know what I mean? I don't think that. That it never stops. Even when it's. We're thinking in weird thoughts already. Like, we want to. We're creating a list of products for, like the next 10 years. Just having a list, knowing where this could go. That. What makes sense. That's not a gimmick, you know? You know, like, say we have a smell that goes viral. Like, of course we're going to want to make a candle out of that smell. Of course you're going to want to do a body wash in that smell. Maybe a body lotion. You know what I mean? So who knows? Just like, things like, you never know.

[Interviewer]

Brand is living.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. Just like having it live and. But in like a real way. I love it. I love it like a way that Chris McMillan would. And I get people like, would Jennifer use this product like you guys teach me like you taught me. Listen to Kristen Stewart's Women's Wear Daily Tribute to a dear. Her hairdresser. Oh, yeah, it's really nice. It was a really, really, really beautiful moment. You just let you know that we're more than hairdressers. You know, we're confidants. We're.

[Interviewer]

You're other people.

[Chris McMillan]

We are, you know, all things hair, you know. And she said a really good thing. She goes, he's, I think the best hairdresser for me is what she said. And I was like, okay, good. But like, I'm the best hairdresser for Jennifer Aniston, for sure. The way I touch hair, you know, the way I grab it, the way I have intention.

[Interviewer]

I think also how you guys have grown together.

[Chris McMillan]

The friendship.

[Interviewer]

The life ship.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, the life ship for sure.

[Interviewer]

That's awesome. You know what is a lesson that stood out from your career for someone who's getting started? Or a story that you kind of keep coming back to that could change someone's perspective on listening to this?

[Chris McMillan]

What can I say? Like, listen, I'm really lucky that I have this salon and that I get to help people build and see what a career. I'm not telling them this is how it's done. Do they actually end in real life? Which I think is super important, by the way. Meeting people in real life, we're so in our phones. I think that the secret sauce is also meeting people in real life. I think that's like a big deal. Make yourself available. Does that make sense?

[Interviewer]

Yeah. No. I feel like that's great for young people. They don't realize, like opportunity strikes when it strikes.

[Chris McMillan]

Oh. Like do not take anything for granted. I always say it like this. Take every call because the call you don't take is maybe the call you was the one.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

You're gonna know whether it was right or wrong or take it, but take the call. That's what Kenny. Kenny also reminds me that because I get tired faster because I'm 90 and he's young, so. But I definitely. He takes every call and he. That's something that he's reminded me of.

[Interviewer]

What's your favorite part about Kenny that you can say on a podcast?

[Chris McMillan]

My favorite thing about Kenny is Kenny is. Is a grown up in a child's body, but he's still like a child. You know what he is? He's dumb as rock, smart as a whip. That's what I always say about Kenny. And I love that he don't ever stop being dumb and don't ever stop being smart. And that's what he is. He's both of those. Is that a. You know what I mean?

[Interviewer]

That's a perfect answer.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. He's young. I'm. I'm my age. I'm wiser because I've. I love to learn the hard way. Love, love. My favorite thing to do.

[Interviewer]

What's your hardest thing you've learned?

[Chris McMillan]

When I got sober, it was like a dumb moment. It was super. This. I just like to learn everything the hard way. So trial by error. I just do relationship wise and. And sobriety wise and work wise and everything wise. It's just I always like to like, learn the hard way. I don't know. It's. That's a tough question. To answer it really is.

[Interviewer]

Or what is the lesson?

[Chris McMillan]

I guess. I guess what I've learned is always, never stop learning. I'm a sponge.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

And what's been really interesting is, is being in business and, like, kind of being, say, partnering with Sephora. I've really, you know, that's a corporate world. I've. I've not had to be in a corporate world ever. Like, it is. I can say what I want and I. And that's been like a great experience.

[Interviewer]

It's been great.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. It has been like, I will never change My. My zoom etiquette. I have horrible zoom etiquette. I'm the guy that goes off topic and I don't pay attention to the timer, and I know we're on a tight schedule and I know that we're on a. Like, there's sometimes when you're with, like, Sephora and stuff, there's a mediator in the zoom call that's keeping everybody on track. And I am not good at that because I'll be like, oh, my God, Camille, your hair looks really good today. What's that background like? I love your background. And you're like, it's model home 27. You mean that's not your house? Like, that's something I'm learning is like, most people's background isn't where they live. On the ocean in an oatmeal colored modern, in an oat milk. Oat milk latte, oatmeal colored room with glass everywhere and an ocean behind them. I was like, you live in the most beautiful. They're like, no, no, this isn't where I live. This is my background on my zoom call. That's how far removed from that I am. And so being a sponge and learning and then like teaching Kenny about hair and Kenny teaching me about business.

[Interviewer]

That's cool.

[Chris McMillan]

And that nothing's linear.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, nothing is linear.

[Chris McMillan]

Nothing is linear. That's what I've learned.

[Interviewer]

When you were telling me before we started that you don't see yourself as an artist, explain that.

[Chris McMillan]

Well, I mean, they're like, oh, my God, you're an artist. I'm like, but I'm really not. I'm like, I'm a. I'm a hairdresser. Because there's a lot of hairdressers out there. I think I would go. If you wanted to start using words like artist, I would say architect, because hair is very architectural. And I learned that from Vidal Sassoon and, like, studying him. And he was super inspired by architecture, which I am as well. And I love architecture. I don't know if this is a Scorpio thing, but I'm super into balance. I like weight distribution. It's all started with the Christmas trees at home and making sure, like, there's way too many red bulbs, they need to be re distributed.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Chris McMillan]

So I always distributed color in a Christmas tree. It's the same with like a haircut, like weight in a haircut. So I'm really into balance. It's like something like if I walk into a room and like a picture, I'll always straighten it rudely. Even in someone's house, I'll go and like, like nonchalantly, like straighten the photo in their house or the picture on the wall that's crooked. Drive me crazy.

[Interviewer]

Like, I feel like I've never heard that before. How did Vidal Sassoon look at architecture?

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, he was super inspired by Marta Bob Bauhaus.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

Super mid century modern. If you look at the cuts that he does, everything's very like architectural looking very square. He went viral with Mia Farrow's haircut when she was doing Rosemary's Baby. And she had. I'm not sure what her hair looked like, but he cut her hair off. She cut her hair because she was fighting, supposedly. The rumor has it she was fighting with Frank Sinatra, who was her boyfriend at the time. And he loved her long hair. And she cut it off. Fuck you.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, fuck you.

[Chris McMillan]

And she cut her hair off and

[Interviewer]

then he had to fix it.

[Chris McMillan]

And so Vidal Sassoon came to set up Rosemary's Baby. It was very well done and he fixed it. Wow, that was a really fun moment.

[Interviewer]

And what did you learn from him?

[Chris McMillan]

Oh, my gosh, just everything. He took women out of rollers and put them into blow dried haircuts, you know what I mean? And he did little. He did like the wedge cut, he did bobs, which all I love.

[Interviewer]

Cool.

[Chris McMillan]

Like, that's probably why I like the bob so much. Yeah, it's very Sassoon. It's very chic, very cool.

[Interviewer]

I always have one question that I ask at the end of every episode and it's what is a brand to you?

[Chris McMillan]

I think it's really got to be authentic to the person giving it. Like, it's Chris McMillan. There needs to be some sense of, of realness of me that's in the DNA of it. I think DNA is a big part of it when you get to know me, which is what I think the journey we're on right now is people getting to know me. I Was like, oh, he is the real deal. He is a hairdresser. He does know what he's talking about when he does hair. This right here, what we're doing right now behind the chair, you can ask me anything because this is my safe place and this the answers. I know, I know everything from behind this chair. So if you ask me anything hair related. So I just think that, like, for me, my brand is all things hair. All things. Like, all things from, like, you're going through chemotherapy and your hair is going to fall out. I got your answers. You need a wig. I got your answers. My hair's falling out because I'm, you know, going through menopause. I got your answers. I'm pregnant. My hair is growing really thick. I had a baby. My hair is full. Like, I know that I've been there. All things hair, like, beyond the product that I'm hawking, beyond the, the haircut. I'm going to give you the. Why is a bob so important? Because one, it could. It's a chic look. Two, it's also a reset for a bad haircut and bad hair color and damaged hair. It's. You can cut it off. You can go from like Hailey Bieber's lobby to, you know, the country Little Bob, which is earlobe length. But it's always a great haircut because it's. It kind of evens you up, gets rid of damaged hair. It looks cute. Always. If you just tuck it behind your ear and make it flick out a little bit, you're good to go. I think Halle Berry killed it. She looked like that. You know, it's just being authentic, really, to your brand and to yourself, for real. I think people are smarter than you think. As dumb as they want to be, people are smarter than you think. And don't think that the people trolling can't see through the authenticness of what you're trying to do. So that's why I'm not in a hurry for everyone to fall in love with me. I want people to get to know me and learn me and be like. And make the decision for themselves that, that, like, oh, okay. When it comes to hair, I trust this guy. You know what I mean? He's the real deal.

[Interviewer]

He is hair.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, he's hair.

[Interviewer]

You are hair.

[Chris McMillan]

Like, you're going to, like, I'm not going to fudge it up. Like, if you get a haircut with me, you're not going to get a fucked up haircut. You're going to probably get one of the better Haircuts that you've had in your lifetime. Yeah, not ever. But like, I care and I know. It's what I do.

[Interviewer]

You are hair.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Okay, so if you can buy three products from the line, what three do you have to get?

[Chris McMillan]

A dry texture spray. That's the one. Because it just works for everyone. I just say the blow dries, the. The glassy smooth blow dry spray, the hairspray and the dry texture spray. Those are the three must haves.

[Interviewer]

Amazing.

[Chris McMillan]

Because you gotta blow out your hair. That's from my perspective. But this but. And then the balm is. This is the very first. So like, why would I put in your hair right now a balm, like greasy in the ends. But what I do is see how I do my little trick and I put it through the ends. This is kind of my Jennifer Aniston trick that I do. It's also really good. Like, it kind of like cleans up all those little flyaways. But if you feel your hair. Feel that, it doesn't feel like there's like a greasy product in your hair. So the balm is. And then also it's what's really nice about the balm being like kind of the product is your boyfriend's gonna borrow it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

So it's a twofer. You know what I mean? It's like the boyfriend's gonna use it. He's got a product, you've got a product. It's adding texture to the hair for. And we always. As much as you want to act like. But who doesn't like a little like hair. PC hair. Messy. Like messy hair. But it's like in a good position. Like, who does that? Like this would be. Jen would be like, don't touch that. That's my favorite piece right there. And loves like this side's doing good and. But I love like what this is doing. And then make sure this hangs in front. Like we like that sort of. It looks real.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah. It's this messy. Before that, you got to use the glassy smooth blow dry. So like basically everything in my kit, but if I had to take one of them out, I would take the hairspray out and then use the dry texture spray. Because this will give it the grit

[Interviewer]

you had to fuck Mary Kill.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, like, but. But I use it as hairspray too. So there's that.

[Interviewer]

I just ate it and it tastes good.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah, it's like puff rocks, you know, it has hold love and you'll feel your hair later. It's like feels like there's product, but you have fine hair, but a lot of it. Yeah. So you need product that has, like. Don't you like your hair? Like, like a couple days after it's all. It's like, doing itself. That's, like the hair that I wanted to create, the products I wanted to create. I wanted, like, as we call it, day old hair, same day. I like, like when your hair, like, you go to the beach and you're having just the best hair day you've ever had, like, that kind of hair. I love the way my hair feels from the beach. I want it to have that sort of beachy girl.

[Interviewer]

That's me.

[Chris McMillan]

Yeah.