Actually I think (and I know I'm the only one around here who believes this) you should learn to hone before you start shaving. Its like learning any skill before you start using quality equipment. At any rate I think buying a cheap razor like a pakistani or anything for less than $10.00 is good just to practice holding the razor and the general moves you need to make on the hone and the strop. Then when you've built some confidence use a vintage Eboy special to practice on and then and only then try honing a real shaving razor. Call it thebigspendurs three steps to razor ability.

I think the general consensus here is you go and buy a quality razor send it out to a honemeister and while you wait for it to come back put the hone and strop under your pillow at night and through osmosis you aquire the skills. Then when your razor comes back and you strop it and try using it and find it won't shave worn a damn you then do a post saying what happened and what do I do now they tell you to send it out again. Upside down world. I realize you want to start shaving NOW but its like anything else you need to learn the ropes first. Sorry for the rant gents.