Rihanna prefers to be friends with a guy before she dates them. The 'Umbrella' singer - who is rumoured to be dating R'n'B star Chris Brown - has revealed her top tip for romance is to befriend a guy as it is "easier to flirt".

She said "When I fancy a boy I always start off by hanging out with him in a group. "It's easier to flirt with him as there's no one-on-one pressure, but he'll still see you're the one giving him all the looks and attention." Despite rumours Rihanna is dating 'Run It!' singer Brown, she insists they are just "best friends".

She previously said: "We are best friends, honestly, like brother and sister. I won't say that we're just friends - me and Chris are really best, best friends." However, she added: "Most of my boyfriends have started out as friends first, although there are some friends I could never look at like that." Rihanna has previously been linked to Hollywood actors Josh Hartnett and Shia LaBeouf.