Not that I'm new to facial hair, but I am new to this place, haven't touched a straight blade to my face, and I have facial hair that needs attention in a manly sort of way.
My wife bought me a straight razor as her wedding gift to me. Unfortunately, she didn't have the time or facilities to do a lot of research and so after seeing some brief and positive reviews she purchase a Kreigar KG101.
Absent any other accessories the blade stayed unused for nearly 3 years now. But for Fathers' day this year she purchased me a strop, a badger-hair brush, shave soap, and C.O. Bigelow Shave Cream (I absolutely love the can of C.O. Bigelow shave cream she bought me a year or so ago).
So now I've no excuses, and frankly, I'm looking forward to getting into straight razor shaving with regularity.