SOTD by u/hugbckt

July 4, 2023 – LG Day 4 – April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
• Blade: 7 O’Clock – Super Stainless (Green)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – La Petite Prairie

We begin today by breaking out the drug scale – my Escali scale I use in my kitchen isn’t precise enough for Breaking Bad day. I measured out what I figured would be enough soap (NO Rawr) for a quick two-pass, gentle shave – it came out to 1.43 grams. After putting that soap in my Captain’s Choice ceramic shaving bowl, I pressed it down as smoothly and consistently as I could, trying to simultaneously minimize the loss of any soap on my thumb or otherwise. I then weighed my synthetic brush, which interestingly weighs 85 g on the dot. Once dipping it in warm water and shaking out excess, it weighed 89.51 g, indicating 4.51 g of water. I then loaded the brush with 140 counter-clockwise swirls around the bowl with moderate force. I then brushed the soap from the loaded brush onto my head, leaving a consistent but thin layer of Rawr. I then put my brush on the scale, tared the scale, and dipped my brush in water again, shaking out a bit less this time. This time, it was 7.81 g of water. I built a lather on my head with the wet and soapy brush, using 80 counter clockwise swirls over the entire surface area of my scalp. This was followed by 40 lateral swipes of the brush to even the lather for a more consistent shave. I then loaded a brand new 7 O’Clock SS blade into my Gillette Ball-End Tech, and shaved my head with 35 swipes across the grain.

It was at this point that I got simultaneously bored and overwhelmed with trying to keep track of everything, leading me to remember why I didn’t pursue the hard sciences. But I wasn’t just going to give up on the daily challenge. Instead, I shifted to what I know best – the soft sciences.

I’m a therapist/clinician specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an evidence-based treatment commonly considered the “gold standard” for borderline personality disorder, which is also strongly efficacious for transdiagnostic emotional dysregulation. For my second pass, I decided to use some core DBT mindfulness skills. While lathering and shaving during this second pass, I was able to shift my focus completely away from counting and precision, and rather notice what I was sensing and feeling, both emotionally and physically. I noticed the gentle feeling of a mild razor cutting the little stubble I had. I noticed my muscles become less tense as I was able to let go of concerns about having a precise or perfect shave. I was able to notice the feelings that Rawr bring – feelings of calm and peace, evocative of springtime and the outdoors, the childlike fun of playing outside without the adult concerns of yard maintenance and capitalism.

When I rinsed off my head, I was able to observe the pleasure of the temperature difference, with a warm washcloth wiping away any remaining soap, while leaving behind the pleasant fragrance of Rawr. I sprayed La Petite Prairie and immediately noticed a judgment – this is a sample I meant to put in the giveaway pile. Noticing this judgment, and careful not to judge myself for judging (a core DBT mindfulness skill), I allowed myself to step back and notice what I was sensing, instead. I noticed the tartness and sourness of rhubarb, which I recognized as the note which sparked my reaction. Allowing myself to be one-mindful, I also noticed the springy florals, and as I write this now, I begin to notice the woody undertones that become more prominent after the dry down. All of these notes mix into Rawr, interplaying in a way which allow me to enjoy both scents, free of those negative judgments. DBT also teaches me that even if that sourness was still present, I can distract myself, accept the things I cannot change, and tolerate my distress to continue on my path toward a life worth living. #FOF

**July 4, 2023 – LG Day 4 – April Showers Bring May Flowers**

* **Brush:** Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
* **Razor:** Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
* **Blade:** 7 O’Clock – Super Stainless (Green)
* **Lather:** Noble Otter – Rawr
* **Post Shave:** Noble Otter – Rawr
* **Fragrance:** Chatillon Lux – La Petite Prairie

We begin today by breaking out the drug scale – my Escali scale I use in my kitchen isn’t precise enough for Breaking Bad day. I measured out what I figured would be enough soap (NO Rawr) for a quick two-pass, gentle shave – it came out to [1.43 grams](https://i.imgur.com/U9jdbHe.jpg). After putting that soap in my [Captain’s Choice ceramic shaving bowl](https://i.imgur.com/csg6xns.jpg), I pressed it down as [smoothly and consistently as I could](https://i.imgur.com/yGm9wCB.jpg), trying to simultaneously minimize the loss of any soap on my thumb or otherwise. I then weighed my synthetic brush, which interestingly weighs [85 g](https://i.imgur.com/KloEOJ8.jpg) on the dot. Once dipping it in warm water and shaking out excess, it weighed [89.51 g](https://i.imgur.com/RAkPypT.jpg), indicating 4.51 g of water. I then loaded the brush with 140 counter-clockwise swirls around the bowl with moderate force. I then brushed the soap from the loaded brush onto my head, leaving a consistent but thin layer of Rawr. I then put my brush on the scale, [tared the scale](https://i.imgur.com/g0288Ib.jpg), and dipped my brush in water again, shaking out a bit less this time. This time, it was [7.81 g](https://i.imgur.com/eysZHBc.jpg) of water. I built a lather on my head with the wet and soapy brush, using 80 counter clockwise swirls over the entire surface area of my scalp. This was followed by 40 lateral swipes of the brush to even the lather for a more consistent shave. I then loaded a brand new 7 O’Clock SS blade into my Gillette Ball-End Tech, and shaved my head with 35 swipes across the grain.

It was at this point that I got simultaneously bored and overwhelmed with trying to keep track of everything, leading me to remember why I didn’t pursue the hard sciences. But I wasn’t just going to *give up* on the daily challenge. Instead, I shifted to what I know best – the soft sciences.

I’m a therapist/clinician specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an [evidence-based treatment](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963469/) commonly considered the “gold standard” for borderline personality disorder, which is also strongly efficacious for transdiagnostic emotional dysregulation. For my second pass, I decided to use some core DBT mindfulness skills. While lathering and shaving during this second pass, I was able to shift my focus completely away from counting and precision, and rather notice what I was sensing and feeling, both emotionally and physically. I noticed the gentle feeling of a mild razor cutting the little stubble I had. I noticed my muscles become less tense as I was able to let go of concerns about having a precise or perfect shave. I was able to notice the feelings that Rawr bring – feelings of calm and peace, evocative of springtime and the outdoors, the childlike fun of playing outside without the adult concerns of yard maintenance and capitalism.

When I rinsed off my head, I was able to observe the pleasure of the temperature difference, with a warm washcloth wiping away any remaining soap, while leaving behind the pleasant fragrance of Rawr. I sprayed La Petite Prairie and immediately noticed a judgment – this is a sample I meant to put in the giveaway pile. Noticing this judgment, and careful not to judge myself for judging (a core DBT mindfulness skill), I allowed myself to step back and notice what I was sensing, instead. I noticed the tartness and sourness of rhubarb, which I recognized as the note which sparked my reaction. Allowing myself to be one-mindful, I also noticed the springy florals, and as I write this now, I begin to notice the woody undertones that become more prominent after the dry down. All of these notes mix into Rawr, interplaying in a way which allow me to enjoy both scents, free of those negative judgments. DBT also teaches me that even if that sourness was still present, I can distract myself, accept the things I cannot change, and tolerate my distress to continue on my path toward a life worth living. #FOF