Congrats.
Definitely, as the meme implies, when you first start, it won't be comfortable. You will notice every step you take. You will be constantly adjusting you belt line and/or your shirt. You will feel like every single person knows you are carrying. They don't. And you will eventually get over all of this.
I see a lot of people making recommendations but I didn't really notice anyone asking you questions.
I have a few.
What gun do you plan on carrying?
What position (appendix, 3 o'clock, crossdraw, small of back) do you plan on trying first?
IWB or OWB?
Also, what's your body type like? Are you a bean pole, or do you heave a considerable amount of tactical girth.
Another thing to keep in mind is you are going to need a good belt. I mean, a good belt. Preferable a gun belt. I stared with a cheap belt when I started carrying and I hated it. I then upgraded to good leather belts by Dickies and Carhart. Definitely an improvement. About a year ago I bought my first gun belt, and it was a HUGE improvement. I would really look into one. I grabbed mine off of crossbreed second for a great price.
I see you are in Illinois, so probably similar climate to me. Right now you probably have warm weather, so you are probably wearing light layers, maybe just a t-shirt? Probably need a small, thin, IWB holster for that. Personally, I would recommend strong side carry about the 3 or 4 o'clock position to start with.
For IWB, I have two preferences, depending on what I am doing and how long I plan on being out for the day.
For a quick trip, I like just a simple kydex/plastic, single clip type holster.
Now, overall, I feel OWB is more comfortable, especially depending on your build, what gun you are carrying, and what you are wearing. I feel OWB can be a little harder to conceal, as with IWB at least half of the gun/holster is hiding in your pants , so you are only dealing with hiding the top half. But with OWB, you have to hide the whole thing. Not too big of a deal, but something to consider.
SO, for IWB I suggest something like this (single clip kydex)
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Or this, dual clip hybrid for a lighter gun
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Or the gun is heavier, something that spreads the weight a little more
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Now, for IWB, I have had one these Outlaw holsters, all kydex. IT's a belt slide, which I prefer for OWB
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Or, I just got this for my Hellcat Pro. I haven't used it yet but it seems nice and I think I will like it
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Of course, there are leather options as well. They tend to cost more. As some have mentioned, Versaycarry are good options. I haven't tried one, but I have a few of their mag carriers. If you sing up for their emails/texts, you will get notified of sales with GREAT pricing.
If you are a Prime member, you can find some good options for all types on Amazon