Inside the Life of SliderCuts: Mark Maciver on Balance, Burnout, and Building a Community

Before the world wakes up, Mark is already working. Whether he’s out for a run before sunrise, packing lunches before dropping the kids at school, or opening up the doors to his business early in the morning, Mark is on the move. You may recognise Mark Maciver as the powerhouse behind East London’s most iconic barbershop, SliderCuts. This also makes him one of the most trusted names in the industry, with a clientele including Stormzy, Dizzee Rascal, and Anthony Joshua, who sit in his chair and trust him to keep them looking fresh at all times. 

Behind the fades and well known names, Mark Maciver is also prioritising fatherhood, faith, community, and the consistent hustle that generates a successful company such as SliderCuts. Very few manage to strike the balance between hustle and home life quite like he has, and even fewer open up about what it takes. 

With this in mind, Fresha spoke to Mark on finding life’s fine balance, and this Q&A invites us into his day-to-day life, from the early alarms, to the church bells that keep him grounded, as well as the Sunday roast that never fails to amaze him. 

Read more below…

via SliderCuts

Q: What’s a typical morning like in your household?

A: If I’m working the early shift, I’ll be up around 4:30-5am, I’ll do my morning run, and then head to the shop. But, if I’m not working early, then I’m up around 6-6:30am to help get the children ready. I’ve got three kids, and everyone’s on a different schedule—one child might be going to nursery, another has to be taken to school—so I may be packing lunches, helping with uniforms, brushing teeth, or checking reading logs. It’s all hands on deck, but it’s a moment to bond as a family, and I make sure I’m present in those times, even if it is just the school run.

Q: Looking at your insane work schedule, what drives you to push this hard? Is it the craft, the business, or something else?

A: My mum worked very hard when I was younger, she had multiple jobs, and was always up early, so I think it’s just my nature! I work hard because I work hard. Sometimes it’s not even for the results, but even then, good results come from it. I understand that the things you want in life don’t just come to you. You have to go and drive for them. If you want to maintain a relationship, you have to work hard. If you want to do well in school, you have to work hard. If you enter a profession and want to excel, you have to work hard.

So one, I think I’m just driven. I just work hard anyway. And two, I have my eyes set on what is needed. I don’t make excuses, I just focus on what needs to be done. I’ve always said to people, if I was working in Sainsbury’s, I would have been working as hard as possible and probably getting employee of the month. People sometimes think I work hard because I work for myself, and I say no, I work hard because I work hard. The benefit is that I work for myself, so I benefit from all the work I put in. But believe me, if I was working for someone else, I’d still be working hard.

Q: What’s your secret to staying mentally sharp and physically healthy?

A: It’s difficult, but when it comes to keeping mentally sharp, which is very important, as well as physically sharp, I think part of it comes down to rest. Not as much as I should get, but recently I’ve been trying to sleep earlier. What people may not realise is that everyone’s tolerance and capacity is different. One person may need eight hours, another might need six. The key is knowing what you need. I know when I’m mentally exhausted. I can feel it. I struggle to put words together, I forget loads of things. So being able to recognise that helps me know when to rest and when to shut things down for the day.

Physically, I build exercise into my lifestyle. I don’t drive, I ride my bike everywhere. Me and my children ride bikes to school, church, and around the area. When I drop them to school, I run alongside them while they ride. If I’m not riding, I’m walking. I also work out at home, doing HIIT training with weights, often with my kids. I go running, I play football on Monday nights or every other Monday night.

Food-wise, I’ve made big improvements over the last six or seven years. I eat better now, and because of that, I’ve got way more energy. I don’t eat breakfast, I have small lunches, and I eat what I want for dinner, but even then I’m mindful of what I eat. I try to stay away from fried foods and things that slow me down. So all of this — exercise, rest, knowing my limits, and eating well — is what helps me stay sharp mentally and physically.

Q: When you hit the wall after working 21 hour days, what actually helps you reset?

A: For me, a reset is more mental. I focus on what needs to be done next. I know there are seasons where things are hectic, but I also know that it won’t last forever. I might be working 21 hour days now, but I know in a week or two I will get some rest, and that may be a weekend, or maybe just a quiet Sunday morning. I keep my mind on the finish line of that season and just push through.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give to other barbers trying to build something significant while maintaining family relationships?

A: One thing I would say is this — it’s not easy. It’s time consuming, and physically and mentally draining if you’re trying to do both at a high standard. Once you accept that, you can then decide if you’re really willing to do what it takes. You’re going to have to work hard, or you can want less. If you want to go hard in business and go hard in your family life, it is going to require high energy. Your kids might want to play football, basketball, or do gymnastics, which means practices, shows, and rehearsals, and then you are also trying to show up every day at the shop. It adds up!

If you’re not married yet, if you don’t have children yet, my advice is to go all in now. Build your barbering foundation before the family comes. Become skilled, get your client base solid, and establish yourself, because once you have that, you can shift your schedule later to work around your family. You’ll be able to say, I only work these hours, and people will adjust to you. If you don’t have that base yet, it will be harder. You might choose to only work Wednesday mornings, but Wednesday mornings are quiet in barbering, and that will slow your growth, and your money might not add up to cover your bills.

If you already have a family, then communication is key. You need to talk with your partner, your kids, let them know what you’re doing and why. The season you’re in might last six months, it might last three years. But if they’re on your side, the journey is easier, and your partner might even support you more because they understand what you’re working towards.

Also, you’re going to have to sacrifice. You might have a day off, and feel like sleeping in, but use that time and find moments to be with your family, even if they’re small. Turn your phone off and do something together, go for a run, take a walk, ride bikes, play a game, make the time count. When you get home at night and you’re tired, if you have young kids, shower them and put them to bed, even if it is exhausting. That is the sacrifice. This journey will cost energy and sleep, but that’s the price if you want to build something great while still being present at home.

Q: How has your approach to barbering evolved since balancing being a business owner, a barber, and a father?

A: If you watch any of my older content from five or ten years ago, you will see that my mindset has stayed the same. The way I talk about barbering, the way I approach it — it’s consistent. I might say it better or explain it more clearly now, but the core is the same.

The big difference now is that I have more responsibilities. I have a team to manage. I have barbers, wages to pay, clients to serve, content to create. I also have a family — a wife and children who I want to be present for. So how my approach has evolved is really about support. I have more people helping me now, so I can focus on the things that matter — giving good haircuts, creating valuable content, being around for my children and my wife, and providing for them.

Q: When you have a rare free evening with the family, where’s the go-to spot in East London for a proper meal together?

A: The place we have been eating most regularly is a spot called SME Kitchen in Newington Green. It’s a kitchen inside a pub that serves Caribbean food, and their Sunday roast is honestly one of the best I have ever tasted. Their food has so much flavour!

Q: Any local businesses or people in your community that have become part of your extended family?

A: Definitely. One example is a woman who now works as an in-house bookkeeper for the shop. I met her nearly seven years ago when she came in for a haircut for herself. Over time, our relationship grew. At one stage, she was even helping take my eldest son to nursery and picking him up! Since then, she has worked across different areas of the business, and she is part of our family celebrations, like birthdays and other events. She’s definitely an extended family.

There’s also a local woman I met one day at the park while we were both pushing our sons on the swings. She recognised me from YouTube, and we got chatting. Turns out she owned a nail shop nearby, as well as a market stall. That day led to her son becoming a client at the shop. Later, we found out we lived close to each other, and by complete coincidence, our sons ended up in the same class at school! Now, they go to each other’s birthday parties, and our families see each other regularly.

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