Welcome! Lots to experience; look forward to the journey.
Some off-the-freshly-shaven-top-of-my-head thoughts:
Brush: You need one. Badger and boar are pretty traditional, there's also horsehair and other more exotic natural fibres. I like boar -- I can get a really good little boar brush by either Wilkinson Sword or Omega in most stores in my area for about ten bucks. Despite using one nearly every shave I have yet to wear it out. Excellent quality boar is still cheaper than mediocre badger, if you're looking to move up a little without breaking the bank.
Razor: Yeah, you need one of those, too. For a normal plain DE (double edge) I definitely lean toward RazoRock. The Gamechanger, Lupo, and BBS are all pretty common among members here. When you're ready for another (related) adventure, you can explore slant razors as well. They're not scary but they do work best if you've sorted your technique a bit before trying them. Lots of good ones, including an upcoming whole series of new slants from RazoRock. There's your second razor...
Blades: Personal favourite is the Astra SP. Only DE blade I use any more, though I have a box full of Rapira, Derby, PolSilver, Voskhod and some others just in case I want a little strange stuff. Astra seems to scratch my itch, though so it's been years since I tried anything else in a DE.
Cream/Soap: Something you can burn a bunch of as you sort out lathering. Proraso is pretty middle of the road -- and probably you can find at least the green and maybe the white where you are. I make some of my own, which is easy but requires setting aside an afternoon to watch things melt and cook. I also, being cheap (well, we Scots say "thrifty") use a nice bath soap as a shaving soap. Personal favourite is Yardley's Oatmeal and Almond Moisturizing, which costs me all of five bucks for two bars and lasts a couple of months. Nothing against that $75 can of Mrs. McGillicuddy's Drawers or whatever the high-end soap is, but what I use does what I need and leaves me with more money to spend on razors.
You'll want a mug -- an old coffee mug is a good starter. You'll want a bowl -- a simple stainless bowl from the thrift store will work, I've even found copper bowls for cheap and used them. Or you can go all-out and pick up a Captain's copper bowl -- lovely heavy thing that many here hope to be buried with.
That oughta getcher motor runnin'.
O.H.
Some off-the-freshly-shaven-top-of-my-head thoughts:
Brush: You need one. Badger and boar are pretty traditional, there's also horsehair and other more exotic natural fibres. I like boar -- I can get a really good little boar brush by either Wilkinson Sword or Omega in most stores in my area for about ten bucks. Despite using one nearly every shave I have yet to wear it out. Excellent quality boar is still cheaper than mediocre badger, if you're looking to move up a little without breaking the bank.
Razor: Yeah, you need one of those, too. For a normal plain DE (double edge) I definitely lean toward RazoRock. The Gamechanger, Lupo, and BBS are all pretty common among members here. When you're ready for another (related) adventure, you can explore slant razors as well. They're not scary but they do work best if you've sorted your technique a bit before trying them. Lots of good ones, including an upcoming whole series of new slants from RazoRock. There's your second razor...
Blades: Personal favourite is the Astra SP. Only DE blade I use any more, though I have a box full of Rapira, Derby, PolSilver, Voskhod and some others just in case I want a little strange stuff. Astra seems to scratch my itch, though so it's been years since I tried anything else in a DE.
Cream/Soap: Something you can burn a bunch of as you sort out lathering. Proraso is pretty middle of the road -- and probably you can find at least the green and maybe the white where you are. I make some of my own, which is easy but requires setting aside an afternoon to watch things melt and cook. I also, being cheap (well, we Scots say "thrifty") use a nice bath soap as a shaving soap. Personal favourite is Yardley's Oatmeal and Almond Moisturizing, which costs me all of five bucks for two bars and lasts a couple of months. Nothing against that $75 can of Mrs. McGillicuddy's Drawers or whatever the high-end soap is, but what I use does what I need and leaves me with more money to spend on razors.
You'll want a mug -- an old coffee mug is a good starter. You'll want a bowl -- a simple stainless bowl from the thrift store will work, I've even found copper bowls for cheap and used them. Or you can go all-out and pick up a Captain's copper bowl -- lovely heavy thing that many here hope to be buried with.
That oughta getcher motor runnin'.
O.H.