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 Place —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, said 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,” Michael said. “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 a frequent customer, she knew 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,” Wald said.

When customers enter the crisp, all-white salon, they are greeted at the reception desk and offered coffee, espresso or cappuccino, along with a sinful variety of delicious pastries to nosh on.

As Wald explained, 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,” Michael said. “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 such as mother of pearl and keratin, created by celebrity hair stylist Oribe Canales, Michael’s mentor and former boss.

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

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

Hort's 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,” Cook said. “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 said that 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,” Michael said. ”I love to make people happy. To me, that 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,” Wald said. “It’s so great.”

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

Julius Michael Scarsdale is located at 1 Christie Place in Scarsdale, and can be reached at 914.725.1123 or www. juliusmichael.com. The salon is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays from10 a.m-6 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sundays by appointment only.