Welcome to Bill's shave wiki.
I started shaving in the mid '70s. I would use my Dad's Super Adjustable after he went to work, I always thought I was sneaky about it and he was none the wiser. For my 15th or 16th birthday he gave me my own Super Adjustable and said now you won't be screwing my blades up all the time. Busted. He also gave me a red ball hot top, it snapped onto a standard Foamy can and dispensed wonderful warm lather.
The Trac II came out about this time too. Every cool kid had to have one, It was the first of many free razors to arrive in the mail. The early Trac II refused to rinse clean, repeated banging against the sink was required to clear it, resulting in less than spectacular shaves. To the trash it went fairly quick.
When I got to basic training it became clear a locker inspection was not going to be passed with a used razor, no matter how much time you put into detailing it the TI would find a microscopic bit of soap scum and fail the locker. A new Bic disposable every inspection day was the trick, so the Super Adjustable went bye-bye. I shaved with the Bics for a bit. At some point another Trac II showed up in the mail and I used it for a long time. Then the Mach 3 started arriving in the mail, I often wondered if Gillette was targeting military or if it was just dumb luck. We moved about 5 years ago, I found 8 Mach 3 handles in the bathroom drawers and know I didn't buy a single one, and I'm sure several were tossed out during other moves through the years too.
A few electrics came and went. I always liked the shave off a new electric, but never would replace the heads. After a couple years the razor burn would become noticeable and back to wet shaving I would go. Another Super Adjustable made a brief appearance, along with the Mach 3s that continually arrived in the mail. As long as the freebies kept coming I couldn't see spending money on razors. I also shaved only when I had to, never on a day off and not on a duty day if I thought I could slide by.
Through the years I frequently experimented with a brush and soap, usually Williams, sometimes Old Spice. Since this was pre-B&B or YouTube, I made the assumption you dropped the puck in a mug and attacked it with a wet brush. Mounds of lather soon followed, and this is still my preferred lather making method today. While they worked extremely well for me, shaving was a chore to get over and done with as quick as possible, so Foamy and Edge were my normal go to products.
After retiring from the USAF, a change to Law Enforcement had me shaving every day for 15 years. Hated every minute of it, kept swapping between a Mach 3 and a Norelco. A few years ago I caught Rick Harrison peddling the Micro Touch One on late night TV. Knowing better than to order off of any TV "call right now" commercial, I hit the internet to see what was available. A Parker 99R, TOBS Sandalwood, and a VDH boar were soon on the way, then a bit later I stumbled across the Badger and Blade. As they say, the rest is history.
Listed here are the items I use and my general impressions.
I started shaving in the mid '70s. I would use my Dad's Super Adjustable after he went to work, I always thought I was sneaky about it and he was none the wiser. For my 15th or 16th birthday he gave me my own Super Adjustable and said now you won't be screwing my blades up all the time. Busted. He also gave me a red ball hot top, it snapped onto a standard Foamy can and dispensed wonderful warm lather.
The Trac II came out about this time too. Every cool kid had to have one, It was the first of many free razors to arrive in the mail. The early Trac II refused to rinse clean, repeated banging against the sink was required to clear it, resulting in less than spectacular shaves. To the trash it went fairly quick.
When I got to basic training it became clear a locker inspection was not going to be passed with a used razor, no matter how much time you put into detailing it the TI would find a microscopic bit of soap scum and fail the locker. A new Bic disposable every inspection day was the trick, so the Super Adjustable went bye-bye. I shaved with the Bics for a bit. At some point another Trac II showed up in the mail and I used it for a long time. Then the Mach 3 started arriving in the mail, I often wondered if Gillette was targeting military or if it was just dumb luck. We moved about 5 years ago, I found 8 Mach 3 handles in the bathroom drawers and know I didn't buy a single one, and I'm sure several were tossed out during other moves through the years too.
A few electrics came and went. I always liked the shave off a new electric, but never would replace the heads. After a couple years the razor burn would become noticeable and back to wet shaving I would go. Another Super Adjustable made a brief appearance, along with the Mach 3s that continually arrived in the mail. As long as the freebies kept coming I couldn't see spending money on razors. I also shaved only when I had to, never on a day off and not on a duty day if I thought I could slide by.
Through the years I frequently experimented with a brush and soap, usually Williams, sometimes Old Spice. Since this was pre-B&B or YouTube, I made the assumption you dropped the puck in a mug and attacked it with a wet brush. Mounds of lather soon followed, and this is still my preferred lather making method today. While they worked extremely well for me, shaving was a chore to get over and done with as quick as possible, so Foamy and Edge were my normal go to products.
After retiring from the USAF, a change to Law Enforcement had me shaving every day for 15 years. Hated every minute of it, kept swapping between a Mach 3 and a Norelco. A few years ago I caught Rick Harrison peddling the Micro Touch One on late night TV. Knowing better than to order off of any TV "call right now" commercial, I hit the internet to see what was available. A Parker 99R, TOBS Sandalwood, and a VDH boar were soon on the way, then a bit later I stumbled across the Badger and Blade. As they say, the rest is history.
Listed here are the items I use and my general impressions.