Beauty, exercises and foreign languages: The amazing tutorials on YouTube

Paying for art, music, language and exercise lessons can become pricey for a parent or grandparent – especially if you decide to carry that talent on in to later life.

But the old traditions of scheduling professional lessons every week are slowly being replaced as YouTube expands across the world, covering almost anything you can imagine – all for free.

The video streaming site was set up primarily for music lovers, with brand new music videos shared online for anyone to watch. However, in recent years, people have begun recording their own tutorials to share with the world – allowing people to learn how to play the piano, speak a foreign language and even change a flat tyre without paying costly class bills.

Whatever your hobby, the chances are there’s an online tutorial for you, with some exercise lessons even giving handy tips on how to improve muscle and joint strength, while beauty tips videos cater to every age group and style.

A simple search for ‘exercise tips for hips and knees’ brings up countless results from individual users, as well as professional organisations, ready to stream for free with experts demonstrating the different stretches and exercises on camera. Lessons can range right from beginner level to professional, catering to every need.

Popular YouTube user Missy Steinfeld has her own video, named Introduction to the Speed Workout for Mature Women & Fitness Tips, taking viewers through every step on their journey. And she has competition from hundreds of others, with user Ageless Woman Living offering a more specific video named Fit & Toned Arms for Ageless (Mature) Women, while ExercisesForInjuries has videos offering advice on what to do when recovering from operations or injuries, particularly for weaker joints.

Read more: How much money do the worlds highest earning Youtubers earn?

Away from exercise, there are just as many (if not more) options for make-up tutorials, with tips for all ages, skin complexions, styles and outings.

While they were initially introduced for younger audiences, these how-to videos have expanded and are now just as popular for over 50s and 60s. Beauty experts like Lisa Eldridge have gained millions of views on each of their videos, but it’s not just the professionals sharing their advice.

Grandmother of four, Tricia Cusden, previously opened up on what inspired her to enter the world of YouTube, in a chat with The Telegraph. She launched her makeup range Look Fabulous Forever in October 2013, having grown tired of being offered hundreds of anti-ageing products.

After beginning her business by transforming her friends’ faces in photoshoots, she was then told to try Youtube – but was immediately sceptical.

“I thought that’s a really really stupid idea because I didn’t think older women would be watching YouTube and at the time nobody knew me within the beauty industry I thought they wouldn’t find the videos,” she told the publication.

“There is a growing community of older women online and it’s a complete myth that women aren’t tech savvy.”

Another woman joining the growing trend is Angie, who runs her own page Hot&Flashy. Like Tricia, she targets older women specifically with a range of tips suited just to them.

The streaming site is not just focused on people’s appearance though, and YouTube can be great to expand an interest or start a new hobby.

There are beginner guides to learning the piano, before separate videos take you through every stage as if you’re attending real-life lessons. Or if you’re keen to simply learn a specific song, more videos can teach you where to start when it comes to recreating huge hits too.

After all, if it’s not your passion, why not impress your guests with just one impromptu tune?

Read more: 11 amazing styling tips for over-60s with short hair

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Other videos offer advice on how to change a spare tyre – without any help. So rather than rushing to ring for help next time you’re stuck, a simple click online could guide you through it alone.

Meanwhile, many families swear by their classic baking recipes, but if you’re in a rush and have a lot of mouths to feed – there are step by step guides to making a feast in record times.

From professional recipes on cooking shows like The Great British Bake Off and MasterChef, to amateur ideas from users offering their own tips, you’re bound to find a range of ideas for your next dinner party.

Other household tips include speedy ways to fold laundry, secrets to making a bed without stress, ways to re-use old clothes and style them to fit new fashion trends, and many more.

But perhaps the most amazing is a fairly recent trend in foreign language tutorials. Rather than paying for pricey lessons, people are searching on YouTube for the basics before taking it further – reducing the amount they have to pay to get their head round the beginning of their new journey.

It’s not just French and Spanish, with tutorials covering languages right across the world. Meanwhile, if you’re more of a creative person, there are sewing, knitting, painting and sketching classes too.

Do you use YouTube for tutorials? Have you had any luck with any of them?