Newbie with short story and questions

I will echo what the others have said...slow down. It is an exceptionally enjoyable hobby if you allow it to be a hobby and don't try to run out and collect everything all at once. You will have plenty of razors, blades, soaps, brushes, and splashes in due time, as long as you continue to enjoy the hobby. Just slow down, and let the tools do their job.

I will make 1 personal recommendation...

For a mild yet efficient razor that will appeal to your "old school" tendencies, I recommend a late-40's Gillette Super Speed. You can pick up the 48-50 model in user grade condition for less than $30. This was my first vintage DE, and still ranks in my top 4 safety razors. Very smooth, efficient, and gentle. I don't shave my face, only my head, but the Super Speed is the first thing I reach for when I am pressed for time, but still want an extremely close and comfortable shave. If I am not using one of my straights, the Super Speed is right there as a top choice.

As with anything else in this hobby, your mileage with any and all gear, soft and hard, will vary from everyone else's experience. Different skin, bone structure, follicular development, growth patterns, and sensitivity will determine which soaps, splashes, and blade/razor combinations will work best for you, so take your time, develop the fundamentals, and then work on assembling your Top Shelf Kit...

Soap recommendations:

It is very difficult to beat the cost:performance ratio for Stirling soaps and splashes, and even their brushes are unbeatable at their price point, in my opinion.

Barrister & Mann Latha line of soaps is also a fantastic cost:performance ratio. I have never tried one of their splashes, but the Latha line of soaps is just fantastic at an unbeatable price point.

Again...all things stated above are in my humble opinion...

Barrister & Mann Latha line of soaps is also a fantastic cost:performance ratio. I have never tried one of their splashes, but the Latha line of soaps is just fantastic at an unbeatable price point.

Barrister & Mann Latha line is fantastic, Period!

I prefer it over B&M white label, Glissant etc.

I prefer it over some soaps that costs 6 times more.

Thanks for all the feedback and advice.

My super speed rocket just arrived today along with a super adjustable.

I dig the rocket and will try it first.

I've seen some good reviews on B&M Latha so I'll give that a try too.

Any advice on a good unscented aftershave?

Thanks again,
Sean


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OK, where do I start.... Here. Slow down. It's not a hardware issue that gives you a good shave just at this moment in your shaving journey. Throwing $ at it and expecting magic is NOT the way to a great shave. First you learn technique. It's all about you and not hardware. Great shaves come from technique that you learn.

Choose one razor. A Gillette adjustable is great for it. Dial it down. Choose one blade. Now spend time learning how to make really great protective lather. Lather making is crucial to protecting your skin from the blade. It's OK to make lather in your palm and put it down the drain. Great lather should be dense and very moist, almost, but not quite runny. Use more soap than you need to get that consistency.

Once you learn really great lather and can get a great shave, keeping the razor at that one setting, change one thing and ONLY one thing. See what it does for your shave. I suggest using the same blade type and not changing that. If the change is for the better keep it. If it goes backwards move back and change something else. While using the same razor at the same setting.

That's scientific method and the best way to move forward. By acting like a kid in a candy shop all you're doing is stunting your growth as a shaver. Chaotically changing things helter skelter just doesn't work if your intent is to ultimately get the very best shaves. By that I mean consistently close (BBS) and comfortable shaves. Yes, you can get them every day and it takes no more work to get them then it does to get a mediocre shave. It's just technique and what I explained. Oh, and no pressure. Really, I mean no pressure.

I probably missed how you shaved previously. But if it was from a cartridge you're going to be using far too much pressure. Cartridges work with pressure, blades work best with NO, let me repeat that, NO pressure. I do mean NO pressure. When you think you're using no pressure lessen it by half again, then do it again. If your skin is deforming inwards under the pressure of the razor it's too much pressure. Deforming in the direction of travel is OK, but not inward. (There, I've written it how many times?) :-)

Right now you can put down 89 bucks for the new Rockwell T. It is due to be delivered soon and that price will be way below what it will sell for later.
Second thought, rather than one razor that may end up back in the box, try the 4 head pack sold by Maggard, along with a handle, you can find out if you like a mild razor V3 a bit more aggressive V3a Perhaps a slant or the open comb V2. Handles can range from short to long, light to heavy. Once you find a head you like best and dial in the weight with the handle you will be more educated about your desires with DE razors.
You could also opt for a Rockwell 6s which is a manual adjustable unit which sells for right at 100 but again for the time being you could have a chrome version for 45 via the quickstart program they are offering at the moment.
As for cost, I have a Gillette Tech, that I got for 5.50 on Ebay, A trip through the dishwasher and it was put into service, one of the mildest I have, You can always pay more but it is not always necessary.