Tony Wood before Tony Wood hair

By 1985, Tony hadn’t yet found his way to Castle Road, but that would soon change.

In 1990, after a couple of years as a newly qualified stylist, Tony bought his first salon at 88 Castle Road. It had been called Nickelby’s, started by the ever-visionary Diane Palmer in the early 80s.

“The original salon will always hold a special place in my heart. I thought I knew it all at 23 when I bought it - turns out, I didn’t. But Diane saw something in me and gave me the chance of a lifetime.” — Tony Wood

Tony renamed the salon EGO - short for “Every Girl’s Obsession.” At first, it was just him and an assistant, but it quickly grew into a busy, vibrant business. EGO became a hub of creativity, with some of Tony’s core values and ideas taking root there, many of which still shape Tony Wood Hair today.

From EGO to Expansion

As EGO flourished, so did Tony’s ambition. He opened a second salon in Portchester, then launched Portsmouth’s first ‘new generation ’barbershop on Osborne Road. He also dipped into commercial styling, doing hair for fashion shows and photoshoots, and began building a reputation as an educator - travelling the UK and internationally to train other stylists.

But by the early - 2000s, 88 Castle Road was no longer enough. Tony needed more space - and he knew exactly where he wanted to go next: the iconic clocktower just down the road.

It started to mark the end of the EGO era, but not the end of the journey. Tony retired the brand but carried forward everything it stood for - reinvention, creativity, and community.

And so, the next chapter began - under a new roof, but with the same fearless spirit.