December 1988. In an effort to improve my appearance before work experience, started with what was available in the house - namely a Wilkinson Sword Retractor and a big brand canned foam. It did the job, but I wanted to get something a bit better - fortunately this was before they introduced a mimimum age for buying such things, or I'd have had to send a parent as proxy. The choice in the local branch of a certain big pharmacy chain in the main town two miles away was some other disposables or a fixed or pivoting cartridge system, or a DE. Bearing in mind the only DE users I'd ever known were my dad and his, and mine had not used one for a while since his old one fell apart, and his was sixty miles away, I was swayed towards the pivoting cartridge. Tried various big brand foam, gel when seen, and over the years three other cartridge systems (when availability or failures led me to replacement). Eventually settled for the time being on a tube gel as well, but that was not always the best for economy either.
I have had limited, and never satisfactory, experience of electric shaving - wet has always been better for me.
Dismay at cartridge cost, coupled with what seemed to be a bit of a DE resurgence, led to me looking into other razors from late last year. Not to be wasteful I used up my last cartridges and emergency stock of disposable razors as I gathered other kit. Got my first brush, soap and scuttle and when the gel ran out started trying to make proper lather, with only a few failures. Even with the disposable razors there was a notable improvement. For its similarity to cartridge razor style I got the Leaf razor - I do have one idea it may be useful for in any case - but also a QShave adjustable. I am actually getting on better with the QShave. I have a big assortment of blades due to mistakes on my first two RBC orders - however the third went perfectly so I will hold off before I order any more. I am getting close to needing a new soap, and it turns out Mühle have introduced a new variety recently.
I use an oil from Aromabar at the moment prior to applying lather, and after treatments are an alum rub and balm - usually either Nivea or Bulldog.