A Wilmington stylist who also counts numerous celebrities among his clientele plans to develop a hair styling and beauty venue on family property in Winnabow, according to a news release.
 
Steven Ward, owner of Steven Ward Hair at 3402 Wilshire Blvd., plans to open his new studio, House of Ward, sometime this spring. Steven Ward Hair will close this summer after a transitional period.
 
House of Ward will be “equal parts chic salon, state-of-the-art photography/videography studio, and rejuvenating retreat for helping people realize the best possible versions of themselves,” the release stated.
 
Although he trained in London, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles, and worked in New York for a number of years, Ward chose to move back to Wilmington in 2006 and open Steven Ward Hair. He said in the release that while he is proud of the achievements of his current salon, the new venture is the “culmination of my long-held dream to create a small boutique salon that would also function as a think tank for all types of beauty needs.”
 
“The new location will combine all of the services offered at Steven Ward Hair with the
space to pursue a variety of projects,” Ward continued. “For example, it will allow me to email ‘how to’ videos of styling processes so clients could repeat techniques at home, do head shots of clients for business and social media needs, and host seminars for up to 50 people on beauty education.”
 
The new salon’s name has a double meaning: not only does it reflect the stylist’s eponymous brand, but will also be located on family property in Brunswick County where he grew up, according to the release.
 
“I’m basically a country boy who has achieved my dream,” Ward said. “My experiences styling some of the biggest celebrities and being involved in fashion at the highest level gave me views of a fantastical place, yet I was brought up on a tobacco farm off a dirt road in Winnabow. I am who I am because of both experiences, and I’m equally proud of both.”

He envisions the new studio as a place with an urban vibe and “world-class” aesthetic services, but set in a “tranquil, rural setting.”
 
In addition to clients in the Wilmington area, Ward has been stylist to such actors as
Jude Law, Angelina Jolie, Julianne Moore, Sandra Bullock and Sarah Jessica Parker, according to his website, which states that Ward’s designs have been featured on the covers of such magazines as Allure, In Style, Flaunt, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar.