Forget the rules. I am impatient and knew my night was to be filled with alcohol (so fear of injury be darned!). Got home, tore into my Parker SR1 and Proraso cream. Put a little right onto my face and scrubbed it in with the brush and went to town, entire face/neck. Loved it. Rubbed in a little of the L'Oreal Paris balm and boom. One nick (okay shaved a couple zits too) and no real irritation.

Can't wait to try it out tomorrow with some proper prep and lather (and try one of the higher-rated Merkur blades I got too). Now the question is, I loved it so much does that mean I need to run out and get the real blade (feeling that way), or that I power through and love my budget shaver.

Okay, okay. It's first night. Things can go wrong. But I am really excited that I spent about the same amount of time as I did with a cartridge and can of Gillette gel, and got the same quality shave (not incredible, but adequate, particularly for the time spent!).

And now that its later in the evening, no, it is not just the alcohol speaking .