After a day of waiting, I gave my new Merkur its official test run this evening.

After a hot shower, I whipped up some lather with the brush and applied it to my face, just as I do for my straight razor shaves. I then carefully began my southward pass, trying not to apply any extra push to the blade, as you guys suggested.

At first I wasn't sure whether it was cutting the hair or not, because I was unfamiliar with exactly what angle to hold it at. What I did was (and I assume this is why the razor is designed this way) make a pedulum-like arc along the skin, kind of rolling the smooth head of the razor along until the blade snagged the hair. The second pass was a combination of cross-grain and against the grain, and went quite smoothly. I didn't cut myself once.

By the end of it I had done a pretty good job, but found myself reaching for one of my straights to do a few touch ups. Ha. I think it's weird that a year ago, I never would have thought about saying a sentence like that. But now, the straight razor has become a toy in my hand.

But anyway, my initial impressions are good ones. Unlike the cartridge Gillette I used to use, a stroke with a DE is quite commanding. I admire its heft, the shiney steel and old-fashionedness. I'm sure I'll get better at using it.