If we were playing a game of word association, the first thing you'd think when we said "layered haircuts" would likely be "The Rachel." Hey, it's not your fault. This style has lived on in infamy (really, there's no forgetting that choppy hairstyle that defined a generation). But this is not 1994, and layers have gotten a major overhaul from the unflattering, Kate Gosselin-esque styles of yesteryear.

"The '90s technique was limited," says celebrity stylist Fabio Scalia. "Today there is more fluidity when cutting layers." In other words, the layers should be smooth, blended and fluid.

If you plan on getting layers, Scalia says you need to communicate to your stylist why you want them -- are they for a style, or to add thickness to your hair? You also want to make sure your stylist knows how short you want your shortest layer to be, as this will determine the cut you get.

Here, 13 beyond gorgeous layered haircuts to try, stat.

Gisele Bundchen: The ultimate inspiration for long, layered haircuts.

Short, blunt hairstyles are chic, but layers add playful texture. "I like to compare a blunt cut to a full glass of water, it can only move so much. But with layers, it is like a glass half full; when you swing the glass, it has more movement," explains Scalia.

Here's the proof that long layers look just as amazing styled in a bouncy blowout as they do in beachy waves.

It doesn't get more #mermaidhair than this.