Long Term Mane-tenance

Growing short hair long like a Hollywood starlet can seemingly take forever. Faking it comes in handy. Consider: Extensions. Extensions are no longer a "hidden" secret.

But hair extensions are not quite like hair that grows from your roots. Extension upkeep can be tricky. Celebrity hair stylist Mia Shin of Anatasia’s salon in Brentwood, gives extension newbies the basic do’s and don’t’s.

Do's
· Gently Brush Hair. With a soft bristle brush (at least once a day), brush hair from the scalp down. Brush ends of hair as much as you can (makes it look less piecy).
· Condition like crazy. Put Extra conditioner and leave in conditioner in hair daily.
· Shampoo Every Three Days. Extension hair is not attached to your scalp (it's attached to your hair), so it does not get natural oil from scalp. If you shampoo too often it will make hair extremely dry.

Don'ts

· Don't brush or comb when hair Is wet. Only brush when hair is completely dry. All the hair is get tangled when it is wet and the keratin bond slightly expands when hair is wet—the extension could actually slip out.
· Don't shampoo the actual extension hair too much.
· Don't go too close to the bond when you use heat tools (flat or curl)—you want to avoid any and all melting!
She adds, “Extensions are an investment; make it last by taking extra good care of your beautiful hair (even if it’s not technically your own to begin with!).”

Mia Shin is a native of Seoul Korea who was as a fashion designer in Los Angeles, who followed her passion for hair design. She graduated from the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica and worked at some of the top salons in Beverly Hills. Her celebrity clients include Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, and Lo Bosworth.

Image: Aug. 9, 2009 photo Britney Spears arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)