Welcome aboard.

I usually shower first so I just wet my face apply lather and shave. These days I use a Mongoose SE razor with feather pro blades. I also use a straight but this combo gives me the closest shave to a straight.

I make my lather in a scuttle. You want to watch water temp because very hot water inhibits good lather and can actually destroy it. Soaps vary in this regard. I use just hot tap water 130F. Also some scuttle makers don't want you to use boiling water. I don't think it would crack the ceramic but you never know.