Start with a ready to shave used razor from our Classified forums. Best bang for your buck.
In case you are wondering, I have 30+ razors right now, and there is a razor in the Classified section that I am sorely lusting for, and it is less than $60.00.
I won't give you the exact price, nor who has it, for fear you might purchase it before I do, but rest assured there are plenty of very nice razors available in the SRP classifieds. If by chance, you don't see something you like, wait a week or two and I'm sure you will find something.
New razors are NOT better.... nice looking perhaps, but not better. Besides the razor, you will need a basic strop (SRD comes to mind, but there are others), a basic brush (Omega is available locally in Canada, not sure about where you are located). Boars hair is fine, not the nicest perhaps, but fine. If you are really scrimping for $$$, I'd settle for Pears soap, the hand soap kind... it's a glycerine based soap, very slick and quite capable. It may lack a bit in cushion, but it's fine... I use it on a regular basis when I forget to bring something nicer into the bathroom when I shave.
Do NOT spend money on a fancy strop... you WILL damage it in the beginning, it's just how things work out. I happen to be a big fan of the Illinoise 827 strop, but it needs a bit of work when you get it. I had to use a sharp edged knife, a pumice stone and finally a diamond hone to scrub off all the excess *hair* and make it smooth. I was comfortable doing so, but I've been working with my hands for the past 40+ years, you may not be. In any case, you WILL ruin your first strop or two, so don't spend much money on it. A basic strop from SRD would be fine as you can replace the leather down the road when your muscle memory kicks in and you stop nicking the strop
Brushes are where it's purely your personal preference.... All of them will produce a usable lather, it's much more your personal preference as to what YOU like. I think the right soap or cream is more important than the brush is, to the shave. On the other hand, the brush is what you feel when lathering and your preference is key, but this has nothing to actually do with your shave quality. Others will disagree with me, I'm sure.... I have brushes I paid $10 for and one brush I paid $300 for. I use the $10 brush more often than the $300 one, because I like it better..... There is no accounting for taste...
Aftershave.... that all depends on you... I rarely use one.... I have lots and lots of them, but I rarely use them. In part because I work in a "no scent" workplace and because I just don't "need" them. If you do, buy something you like or use what you already have. A good straight shave does not require an aftershave as far as I am concerned... it's only to make you smell pretty!
If you really really really want to buy a *new* razor, get one from SRD. At least they are properly honed, ready to shave and come with an offer of an additional honing down the road, when you need it. This is the reason you want more than one razor.... the first one needs honing, what are you going to shave with while waiting for it to be honed? <grin>
I did it the hard way when I started, I bought an old razor that wasn't shave ready and taught myself to hone from the start... That sub $15 razor is STILL my favourite because I learned everything with it.
Good luck,
Regards
Christian aka
Kaptain "Run whatcha brung" Zero
