how many brush strokes

Welcome to the site and that is a good question.  Being a newbie, I understand your need to understand the optimum amount of times you should brush your hair.  This site even contradicts itself when it comes to this topic.  Many wavers say you can never brush too much, but under the FAQ thread, it says the following:

Steps For Using Pomade/Similar Styling Products To Create 360 Waves

• Use pomade before you brush & put on a doorag
  
• Brush hair at most 1/1 ½ hours daily.  Note:  Too much brushing will actually break up the waves and prevent them from forming tightly.
  
• Shampoo hair according to your needs but try to clean hair at least every other day to keep scalp and hair healthy.Black Font Note:  Brush hair in shower to make waves more uniform
  
• Wear a doo rag when just hanging out & not going out.  Also wear a doo rag to bed.
  
• Lightly spritz or spray the doo rag with water or a mixture of water and moisturizer while wearing.
  
• Work with a barber that understands how to create 360 waves and then develop a plan of action on how to cultivate really well-formed 360 waves.

So, I apologize for the immature and rude comments from some HB members.  Just try to brush as much as you can stand and see what results your hair texture yields.  If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask and if others wavers on this site give you a hard time, private message me for advice, tips, and recommendations.  Again, welcome to HB.