Originally Posted by
Obie
Aztec,
About a minute or so is all you need to start lathering after you apply the pre-shave oil.
Also, strop before each shave. After the shave, the hairs on your face leave microscopic ridges on the edge. Not only that, but the pressure of the blade on your face also dulls the edge somewhat. Stropping before each shave, therefore, reconstructs the blade's edge from the previous shave. I also strop after the shave, about 10 strokes on each component, but that is to further clean and dry the blade.
Stropping before the shave is essential.