A few gentle minutes with a brush each day does more than you'd think. It smooths the surface, which brings a little shine, and it clears the loose, dead skin from your scalp.

Be gentle with it. No tugging, and never drag straight down from the top. Once a day is plenty, and about three minutes suits most hair. Start at the ends and work slowly up towards the roots. Come at it from the top and the hair stretches and can break, and breakage only really grows out, so the extra care at the ends is worth it.

A couple of small things help. After washing, run a leave-in through the lengths first, so the brush glides instead of catching. A natural-bristle brush is a good one to have, since the bristles smooth as they go. And if your scalp gets oily and you'd like the fresh feeling to last past a day, keep the brush off the skin so you're not dragging oil down the lengths.

There's a second kind of brushing, just before a wash. Tip your head forward and brush slowly from the nape, up over the crown, to your forehead, covering the whole scalp. Give it about five minutes, or as long as it feels nice. It clears the hairs that have already let go before they tangle or reach the drain, and it loosens the dead skin at the surface. Any oil you stir up doesn't matter, since you're about to wash it out.

A little care with timing. If your hair gets oily faster in warm weather, do this the night before instead, so your scalp can settle. Go lightly before a conditioner-only wash. And if your roots feel weak and you're shedding more than usual, be gentle and keep an eye on it while a good routine builds them back up.

One last thing. If your scalp is irritated or sore, leave it be. No firm brushing, no massage. You can still comb the lengths and lift the hairs that are ready to go, and it's worth talking to a professional.