Reality TV Hopefuls Open Scarsdale Salon

Master stylist Julius Michael of White Plains and Armonk resident Monica Wald—partners in the new Julius Michael Scarsdale Hair Salon, at 1 Christie Pl.—are causing quite the buzz in Westchester, which may soon make its way onto television screens across the nation.

The duo’s salon has been crammed with customers since opening earlier this month, and may soon be filled with reality TV fans‑as both Michael, 37, and Wald, 43, are being considered for pilots on MTV and Bravo.

Michael— who has an 18-year-old daughter, Gabrielle—confirmed that he is currently in talks with MTV to appear in a pilot called “My Gay Family,” that explores gay parenting. Wald—who has two children, Samantha, 16, and Zachary, 13, with her husband Steven Wald—says she is being considered for a ” series.

The pair became friends after Wald began seeing Michael three times a week for the latest hair treatments and styles.

“She’s the one who really pushed me to do this,” said Michael, “I wanted to put a different spin on a salon to create a totally new client atmosphere, where clients love hanging out. I want people to feel like they are being treated with respect, like they are the most important person in the salon at that moment. And create really amazing work, at really great prices.”

Wald offered to partner with Michael to fulfill his longtime dream—being such a frequent customer, she knows exactly what clients look for in a hair salon.

“Our customers are pampered in a comfortable setting where they are made to feel even more beautiful,” said Wald.

When customers enter the posh salon, crisply decorated in white, they are greeted at the reception desk and offered coffee, espresso or cappuccino—as well as something to nosh on, like a sinful variety of delicious pastries.

As Wald explains the salon offers “anything that has to do with hair,” and specializes in straightening treatments and extensions, including the newest. According to Michael, all of the salon’s stylists are color specialists and have trained under the best stylists in the world.

“It’s like a dream team,” said Michael. “All of our staff is super talented.”

The salon sells a sole product line by Oribe—a high-end hair care line, which uses ingredients like mother of pearl and keratin. The line was created by celebrity hair stylist Oribe Canales, Michael’s mentor and former boss.

Ella Hort, 10, of Riverdale, excitedly sat in a salon chair, starring in the mirror admiring her brand new streak of purple hair that Michael just finished putting in.

“It’s cool, it stands out,” exclaimed Hort.

Her mother, Kristi Cook, 41, has been a longtime customer of Michael’s and even named one of the vampires in her new book “Haven,” after him.

“I would go anywhere in the tri-state area for Julius,” said Cook. “He’s fabulous! I don’t even have to have an idea in my head, I just tell him I want something fun and different—and he does something fabulous.”

Michael says getting to know his clients is the key to creating beautiful hair. As blow dryers buzz away throughout the day, Michael takes the time to chitchat with all of his customers, in addition to those he specifically works on—offering customized tips on how to treat their specific head of hair.

“I have to connect with my clients and get into their heads—and from there I can create,” says Michael. ”I love to make people happy. That to me is the best gift, when my clients look in the mirror and love what they see.”

Customers have been rotating in and out of chairs all day long since the Christie Place storefront opened its doors earlier this month.

“We fell in love with this site,” says Wald. “It’s so great.”

“There has been so much support from the Village of Scarsdale and the merchants and residents,” says Michael. “My hope is to not disappoint anyone, always be the best and be a place where people look forward to going to get their hair done.”

Julius Michael Scarsdale is located at 1 Christie Pl. in Scarsdale, and can be reached at 914.725.1123 or www. juliusmichael.com. The salon is open on Tues., Thurs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wed., Fri. 10 a.m to 6 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun. appointment only.