Proper use, together with correct care and cleaning will ensure your brushes have a longer life. I hope the following tips will help.

• Storage is important - always keep aired and whenever possible, in the upright position. Natural hair needs to breathe in order to prevent mould growth. Avoid window sills and radiators and keep your brushes out of direct sunlight.

• Try to keep handles dry, to prevent them from loosening and cracking. When you dip the head into water, try to keep the water level below the crimping and only wet the ferrule.

• Moulting or shedding hairs from a new brush is a normal process. Even though we 'wet test' here for you, there is no way we can perform the settling in period you will endure. Once the brush is broken in and following a few painting sessions the moulting will stop. Always thoroughly rinse a new brush before first use, to remove the Gum Arabic used to set the head.

• Always clean a good quality brush thoroughly after each painting session. For fine hair, such as Kolinsky & Red Sable, rinse in cold water. Remove as much moisture as possible with kitchen roll and reshape before storing. For transporting to and from art class, I recommend a bamboo brush roll. This not only keeps brushes secure and prevents damage to brush heads, but also allows for air ventilation. Another special tip for longevity of brush heads is to recondition your sables as you would your own hair! Once a year, take ordinary hair conditioner and apply just one or two drops to the heads allowing to soak, then rinse well before storing again. This will greatly enhance the performance of the brush.

• Expensive brushes, especially ones with a perfect sharp tapered point shouldn't be used to mix the paints. Instead buy a less expensive alternative and save your points.

• Oil and acrylic paint is less easy to remove from the belly of the brush head. When purchasing your particular brand of paint, ask the manufacturer which cleaner they recommend - there are some excellent cleansers out there! As an alternative, washing up liquid and cream cleanser (found in the bathroom) are good or a good quality hand degreasing agent - usually used by mechanics for washing their hands is excellent. To store good quality oil brushes, it is recommended you reshape and apply Linseed Oil or Pure Almond Oil etc, but you will need to cleanse before next use.

• Always have a set of brushes for each medium you use. It is false economy to use the same brushes for all applications. 'Crossing over' from one medium to another can prove expensive and disastrous when contamination occurs.

Good Luck!