Weekly beauty tutorials: couture inspirations

(AFP PHOTO/Pierre Verdy)

Here's how to achieve some of the most striking looks from this week's haute couture runways.

Valentino's models had tightly braided hair, with the side strands almost resembling cornrows, a look that is hard to achieve on your own. YouTube beauty vlogger Risa shows you how it's done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxMWeO-tJeM&NR=1

Granted: the mohawk is quite a commitment, but if you take hints from Jean Paul Gaultier's punk-inspired show, the hairstyle doesn't have to be as binding as that. Go for a " fauxhawk" instead, as explained in this tutorial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmynRJPl3Q4

At Armani, models were wearing blue and purple lipstick, and while these colors might be hard to pull off as a look, dark lipstick in general is a major trend this winter season and suits almost every type.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcIuuJd7grk

Dior incorporated flaming red into models' makeup - a color that is seldom used around the eyes. Find a similar look at the following link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEY4zvTexPY

Chanel's thick eyeliner looked almost as if painted on with a felt pen. Experiment with shapes until you find the right "wing" for you; in the meantime, this video will help you get started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZNunI4l-TY

High ponytails have been in vogue for several seasons now, but at Georges Chakra's show, extensions were used - and they were allowed to show. So don't be afraid to try out different hairpieces anymore: it's more about getting creative than looking absolutely perfect. Here's how.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmLbY3JOhTg