Barefoot or minimalist shoes? It is one of the first questions people ask, and the honest answer is that they are two points on the same path, not opposing camps.
Both move you toward a lighter, more natural stride. They just give you different amounts of protection and feedback.
This is general information, not medical advice.
Fully barefoot
Bare skin gives you the most feedback. You feel every surface, which teaches you to land softly and quickly. It is also the most exposed: no protection from sharp objects, hot pavement or cold ground, and the fastest way to overload your feet if you rush.
Barefoot works best in short, controlled doses on clean, smooth surfaces you trust.
Minimalist shoes
A minimalist shoe keeps the thin, flexible, low-drop feel while adding a layer against gravel, glass and weather. You lose a little ground feedback and gain a lot of practicality.
For most people, that trade is worth it day to day.
Which should you start with?
A sensible path for most beginners: start in minimalist shoes for your regular running, and use short fully barefoot stretches as a form drill on grass or a smooth path.
Bare feet teach you the feel; minimalist shoes let you practice it without shredding your soles. Either way, the rule is the same: build up slowly, because the transition is where injuries happen, not the footwear itself.
From here, see how to choose minimalist running shoes, get the starting technique in barefoot running tips for beginners, and read the bigger idea in the minimalist running philosophy.