When is the Right Time to… Become a Brand Ambassador?

Becoming a brand ambassador can be a great career opportunity; it’s a way to raise your profile in the industry and earn some extra money. But when is the right time to approach a brand about working for them as an ambassador? Here are the questions Editorial Artist for L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, Louis Byrne, thinks you should ask before taking that first step…

1. Do you have the necessary skills and experience?

For a brand to take you seriously as a potential ambassador, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and experience to represent them. If you’re approaching a styling brand, you’ll need to be at the top of your game when it comes to creating incredible finishes, whether it’s sleek and smooth or highly textured; if you’re looking to represent a colour brand such as L’Oreal Professionnel, then you need to have years of experience creating colour and styling looks that would fit within the brand’s portfolio.

2. Do you know the brand’s products inside and out?

Before you even think about approaching a brand with a view to representing them as an ambassador, you need to be totally familiar with their products. You’ll have worked with them in all kinds of scenarios – on clients, models and (ideally) in high-pressure environments such as backstage at fashion shows or onstage presenting live demos.

3. Does the brand share your needs and values?

The brand you work for as an ambassador also needs to fit your criteria – it’s a two-way relationship. What values do you look for from a brand? For example, do you want to work with the highest quality colour? Do you want a brand with high-profile fashion credentials, or are you more interested in the brand’s commitment to environmental issues? You’ll need to research the brand you intend to approach to ensure your values are aligned.

4. Do you truly believe in its effectiveness?

If you’re going to represent a brand and talk with genuine passion about how much you love working with it, you’ll need to really believe in it. Have you discovered a brand whose products you believe in 100%?

5. Have you got the time?

Don’t underestimate how much time you will need to commit to the role of brand ambassador. Make sure you have a clear idea of what the brand will expect from you in terms of the number of events they will expect you to appear at, the educational jobs they will want you to undertake and the amount of travel you will need to do over the course of a year to fulfil your commitment. If you have a salon to run or a freelance business to maintain, ensure the role of ambassador will complement this rather than putting you under too much strain to do both roles effectively.