I'll normally use whatever gel I have to hand, i generally just style it downwards. My hair is currently green at the moment, so I dont worry to much about style.
Probably something by Mr Vai, Stairway isn't really the best for showing off.
As for pedals, I use to just play through a Boss metal zone and Noise Supressor bu i've since got one of he orignal vintage Ibanez Tubescreamers which fucking rock.
One thing that I would like to stress about practice is that it doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent. So make sure what your practising is correct.
First bit of advice, YOU DO NOT NEED A TEACHER. Some of the best guys have learned themselves, the idea is to develop your own style and ideas, not copy someone else.
I find it quite surreal looking back on when i was kid, how much I loved christmas. I always used to say I would never grow out of it, now its just another (expensive) day.