Creative HEAD UK January 2019

Anthony Joshua
SEE
SLIDERCUTS
SPEAK AT
25 MARCH AT THE PARK
PLAZA, LONDON
Tinie Tempah
became better when I started doing that, as a way of
understanding what I’m doing. Remember that you’re cutting
hair, not skin. It’s not about pressing harder, you’re just bringing
definition between the hairline and the skin, sculpting it out.”
It’s testament to his skill, his personality and his Instagram
success that he has featured in a campaign for Facebook and
Nike’s ‘Nothing beats a Londoner.’ You might have spotted him in
ads on the London Underground for payment system iZettle, too.
“I do think my haircuts are something that set me apart.
And my personality and character are also a big factor, as well as
my professionalism.”
And at a time when the industry is rightly concerned with the
lack of good quality apprentices, Mark’s apprenticeship scheme
is something of an inspiration. For Mark, it’s about being early
rather than just on time (“To be on time is to be late!” he argues)
and focusing on the personalised aspect of each cut. “I think
people have been looking for a barber they can rely on for a long
time,” he explains. “It’s not just that clients like their haircuts –
it’s that they trust me.”
When the time finally came for Mark to open his own
SliderCuts shop, his dedication to his craft and client base was
front-and-centre to its carefully considered design. Opening last
summer in Hoxton, his celebrity clients – including Stormzy,
Tinie Tempah and Anthony Joshua – mingle right in there with
the rest, able to be just another regular customer. Everything
from the no-nonsense decor to the layout of the chairs (placed on
either side of the space to allow conversation between barbers
and clients to flow) feeds into the SliderCuts atmosphere. “I
want people to come in and feel like they could spill their drink
on the floor, not like they were in a museum. I want them to feel
comfortable – it’s one of the ethics of my business,” he explains.
A lot of time was spent on the acoustics, making sure people
could hear each other without excess noise. “Ultimately it’s a
community. You have to remind yourself that hair is hair,” he
adds. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Barack Obama or the guy who
sweeps the streets… hair is hair.”
Mister Quarterly 09