What to buy just starting out...
This is based on my one-stop-shopping experience buying everything brand new so here here it goes:
I bought the following gear from these guys. I have nothing but good things to say.
http://www.classicshaving.com/Home.html
Heres what I bought:
Razor:
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190305.htm
This is my second favorite razor out of about 15 that I've tried so far.
Get it Sharpened:
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...215/526771.htm
Lynn is the guy who started (?helped start?) this homepage and I've never read a bad thing about him. The razor came back great but be warned, there is more to a good shave than a sharp razor. Keep at it, it took me a couple of months before I was getting shaves that were comparable to a disposable.
Hanging Strop:
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196033.htm
Seems to work well for me. There are other people out there (i.e. Tony Miller) that are extremely well spoken of, but this is my one-stop-shop experience that worked out well for me.
Soap:
http://www.williamsmugsoap.com/
Don't use anything out of a can. This stuff cost $1.34 or something like that and is at least 3x better. It's available everywhere I've ever been in Canada and also in the States as near as I can tell.
Brush:
http://www.wilkinsonsword.co.uk/men/...ps_and_brushes
These are right beside the Williams Mug soap. Others cost more, but I haven't felt the need to find out why.
Mug or bowl:
Hopefully you have one in your house. As long a a brush has some wiggle room it will work.
Everything I've listed here is what I recommend to my own friends when they show an interest.
All this being said, there are other options. Some people on the BST forum offer starter kits and so does Tony Miller.
http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...c?categoryId=5
Based on Tony's reputation here I might have gone that way knowing what I know now.
Mark
