Even after working with some of the biggest stars in the world, Bodt’s feet remain planted firmly on the ground

It’s easy for someone with a portfolio like Rachel Bodt to feel above it all — but that’s not her style. Despite a career coloring hair and styling wigs for A-listers like Beyoncé, Tilda Swinton, and Ariana Grande, Bodt remains humble and down to earth, offering the same grace and quality to everyday clients as she does the biggest stars on the planet. We invited Bodt to tell us about her humble beginnings, what drove her to open Homecoming Salon, and how empathy informs how she approaches her work.

Dreaming big from a young age

I’ve wanted to do hair since I was 10 years old. When I’d go to the hair salon with my mom, I’d sit up front and organize all their beauty magazines — then I’d go home and experiment with the new colors and styles I saw on my friends and family.

After I graduated from high school, I moved to New York City to enroll at the Aveda Institute. Once I got there, all those childhood experiments started paying off: I had an instant love for finding colors and highlights that complemented my clients’ features while making them pop.

My mentors at the Institute encouraged me to make coloring a core focus of my styling work. I kept their advice in mind as I moved through New York salons while pursuing editorial work. I was building connections throughout the modeling and celebrity worlds, and once I started landing gigs like coloring Kate Moss’ wig for the cover of Vogue and working on dyes for the models at Balenciaga, I felt like I was finally breaking through.

Then COVID-19 happened and upended everything. The salon I worked at closed during the pandemic. I took some time to figure out what the next step was, because I never thought owning a salon in New York was possible. But I knew I wanted to deliver something unique for my clients and the beauty industry.

How empathy sets Homecoming Salon apart

Working on runways and red carpets was a dream come true, but I never wanted to lose the feeling of what it’s like to stand behind the chair — to understand what clients need to feel comfortable and look their best. That was what led me to start building the team for Homecoming Salon.

We know that, for some people, walking into a salon can be triggering. It can be overwhelming, it can make them feel self-conscious. When I was thinking about starting Homecoming, I thought: “There’s nothing wrong with the way that a salon is, but can it be done with more empathy?” That was a major driving force.

That starts with offering kindness and understanding to new clients when they walk through the doors. My staff and I remember what our first time at a salon was like, so we’re always happy to sit down with clients, answer questions, and walk them through the styling and coloring processes — all without that feeling of judgement or snobbishness you sometimes get at high-end salons. We just try to be a very warm group of people.

But it’s also in the little things, like being intentional about the products we keep stocked on the shelves or simplifying the booking and check-in process as much as possible. We’ve leaned on Boulevard’s online booking and messaging software to streamline operations, all while making it easy to reach out directly to clients for a personal touch.

Boulevard really helps us lean into thoughtfulness. It takes those extra steps a lot of booking systems don’t; things like being able to put your pronouns in there, or clients being able to request an appointment. Each little piece adds up to a big difference.

Building a foundation for the future

The beauty industry moves fast — especially in New York. But I want to make sure Homecoming isn’t another flash in the pan.

That’s why I’m focused on building a salon where everyone can show up and do their best work during good times and bad. We’re upgrading the space and redoing our education book, so each team member has the space they need to grow and succeed. For me, seeing my team grow is not only inspiring but also necessary to build a community where we celebrate each other's accomplishments. 

Growth is important for the business, too. My goal has always been to build something that feels good and warm. I love doing hair and want to be surrounded with people who have that same passion. That’s why I started Homecoming: to do beautiful hair and build connectivity with my clients and staff through authentic interactions. I never set out to build an “empire.” I went into this industry with openess and I’m so grateful for all the incredible things I’ve gotten to experience and artists and people I’ve gotten to meet.