Priorities for a good shave (for the beginner)

I'm not uber experienced with wet shaving (at least in the proper sense). I bought a Merkur 39C several weeks ago, and a cheap brush/soap/mug combo from one of the giant chain stores. I had been reading LOTS of experienced shavers recommend a good brush/soap combo before a new razor (safety or straight). Well, I figured, what do THEY know? THEY don't have the life experience and innate awesomeness I do. Surely I know better.

Well........................
Here's the deal. THEY were right!!!

I received a Edwin Jagger Best Badger brush and Edwin Jagger soap sample pack for my birthday. On a lark, I went ahead and wetted the new badger brush (yes there is a little bit of wet badger smell that I assume will go away) and went to town on the EJ soap. I did my "normal" swirly-in-the-bowl routine and got, what appeared to be, a much better coating of soap.

Then I face lathered. You've gotta be kidding me!!?!?!?!? It was AMAZING! Just like the "big boys" in the youtube videos. The lather was THICK and creamy and just awesome.

Today I decided to eliminate one variable. I used the badger brush with my cheapo soap. While no where near the lather I got with the EJ soap, the lather was several orders of magnitude better than what I was getting before.

SO....
If I may be so bold as to make suggestions to other proper-wet-shave beginners, here are what should be your priorites:
1) Good brush. Get as good a one as you think you can afford. Best badger is the minimum in quality.
2) Good Soap. There appears to be so many different options out there in terms of fragrance and ingredience I can't possibly imagine finding the one single best one. But if you buy a good one from a good vendor, it will make all the difference in the world.
3) Razor. If it's a safety razor there are tons of recommendations on this site. If you go straight edge, be sure to get a shave ready one. I spent all morning getting my "new" razor shave ready.

Boy is this hobby addictive!!!:rock:

Thanks for listeneing.
BDG

Welcome aboard.

I went for the brush (entry badger from TOBS) and soap (Jermyn Street Collection from TOBS) and used that with my cartridge for a month or two to get better at the prep side before getting the straight (which I have now). Meant I could focus more on learning the straight as the prep would be 2nd nature.

Trying to decide myself if I should up my brush to a silvertip next or new straight.

And yes, it's very addictive :-)