How different should WTG and ATG feel?

This morning, I noticed my freshly honed Karl Plümacher would very gently wipe away the hairs on my face with the first pass. In fact, it was so smooth and comfortable, I wondered if it was actually cutting anything or just sliding over the whiskers. Guessing that it was cutting just fine, I proudly attributed the feeling to my slowly improving technique.

Against the grain, however, all felt like normal in terms of tug. Just a little bit more than I would like, but then again, very smooth thanks to my BBW/CrOx edge and the result is newborn's behind smooth.

My question: how different should with the grain and against the grain feel? Is it normal that there is a significantly larger resistance for the razor against the grain, or should I use less pressure (I'm prone to using too much)? If I could shave against the grain as I did with the grain this morning, I would start my days with a foolish grin I could not suppress :)

I always thought that it was normal to feel a little more resistance going ATG than WTG. At least I always have felt more.

Bob

ATG always gives more resistance than WTG. All you have to do is rub your face in different directions and feel the difference with your fingers. The cutting angle is very different and thats why you get the resistance. If you want to cut a branch with a machete it will cut easier at an angle as opposed to straight on at 90 degrees.

IME there's still a bit of extra resistance when going ATG, even with a scary sharp edge. For me I chalk it up to thick wiry whiskers that lay very flat in some areas.

There will be more resistance, but how much is going to be individual based on you beard, (thickness and growth direction), skin sensitivity, the keenness of your razor and your technique.

ATG, skin stretching really helps me. Also a shallow angle of attack seems to help, spine almost touching.

Thanks guys, I will play around with the angle. When I got home yesterday evening, I found the left half of the skin under my chin was pretty irritated and had quite some loose skin flakes. That happened to me quite often when I just started out with straight shaving, but it went away as I got used to my skin and razors. I wonder what I did differently, or if it was just the razor. Tomorrow, let's see what's what.

Against the grain shaving is against the direction the whiskers grow. It should feel different and will. Because the whiskers are essentially growing in the opposite direction of what you are shaving, the feeling will be different and the results will also be more complete. That's why the ATG is the money pass!

ATG, if you think about it, is very different.

If you have done the other two passes properly, the difference is less remarkable. But if you have not...

Not only will the hairs direct the blade into the skin (instead of away) and cause more drag, but a very very sharp blade will grab the hair partially up the shaft and then "push" the hair back on itself or into the face as it cuts. This is less efficient and creates a different sensation than when cutting with the grain where the hair it already aligned for the job.

Think about holding a piece of string at one end and cutting it in an upward motion.

That is how I envision the process anyway.

Do the first two passes correctly and the shaft is short, stiff, and will offer less "direction" to the blade.

Your WTG and XTG passes should set up the ATG. On the neck the XTG is not doable but the WTG with well honed razor will set up the ATG nicely.
Usually one can feel some resistance, but it should not be uncomfortable, also some razors can get and edge that when doing WTG does not feel too different than the WTG pass.

All good responses above so not much left to say other then once you become proficient you can move in to more advanced shaving strokes that will leave you bbs and reduce the resistance on ATG passes. Try the 'scythe' technique, that allows you to go ATG with very little if any tug. If your not there yet though don't try it or you may get a closer shave then u bargained for. ;-)