Today we interview the Founder and Managing Director of Hairguard and hair loss specialist, William Slator.
As the the Founder and Managing Director of Hairguard, it’s safe to say that William has a firm grounding in the theories behind hair loss. He has a solid background in the sciences (obtained his Master’s Degree (Honours) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham) and a personal passion for helping those with hair loss.
In today’s interview, we’ll get to know more about Will and his own personal battle with hair loss. We’ll also learn about the most common causes of hair loss, misconceptions about hair regrowth, and the biggest mistakes you can make on your hair loss journey.
Question: When did your interest in the topic of hair loss begin?
Answer: It was at 16 or 17 that my own receding hairline was brought to my attention. I didn’t even know what that was, let alone that I was suffering from it myself. A friend pointed it out to me one day, and that was the start of my hair regrowth journey.
Question: What are the most common causes of hair loss?
Answer: The most common type of hair loss in men worldwide is male-pattern baldness. This type of hair loss is believed to be caused by a few different factors including genetic predisposition, stress, aging, scalp tension, and sensitivity to the androgen hormone DHT.
Question: What preventative measures do you recommend to those who are more susceptible to hair loss?
Answer: I’ve always believed that prevention is more effective than treatment. With that in mind, I suggest those with a predisposition to hair loss know the signs of early stage hairline recession. The best thing you can do to prevent hair loss is to eat a balanced diet, practice scalp massage, and aim to live as stress-free as possible.
Question: What are the biggest misconceptions about hair loss?
Answer: There’s quite a few that I’ve come across in my 10+ years of speaking with hair loss sufferers. Perhaps the most common is that hair loss is only something to worry about in your 30s and beyond. The signs of hair loss can begin as early as your late teens, so you want to be aware so you can treat it before it’s too late.
Question: What is the biggest mistake you see in your readers and customers when it comes to treating hair loss?
Answer: Everyone wants a quick fix. It’s understandable, but it’s also impossible. I always tell my readers that hair loss didn’t happen overnight so regrowth won’t either. You need to find a solution that you can stick with long term, and then be patient. The quick fixes you come across are likely to be more damaging than helpful, as they only allow the underlying problem to worsen.
Question: What steps do you recommend to those who have just been diagnosed with hair loss?
Answer: First, take a deep breath. There are millions of people worldwide with this very same issue, and it is treatable in the vast majority of cases if you treat it at the first signs. Second, follow the science. The medical community has been studying hair loss for decades. We know so much more about hair loss than we did even 20 years ago, and this means that treatments have only improved over time. The very best thing you can do at the start is to focus on treating the underlying cause (i.e. scalp tension, androgen sensitivity) so as to not let it progress any further.