With Academy girls back at school and busy multitasking clubs, sports, homework and sleep.  Putting that long hair into braids will help you manage your busy lif e while looking pulled together and stylish.

The braid guru Rachel Eilers ’12 may be off to college, but her advice below still offers help and motivation. Then check out advice from another alum, Jacqui Posada. , who left behind her directions  on video.

First start by taking a section of hair at the top of your head.

1. Then separate the section into three pieces as if you were going to braid it regularly.
2. Grab the hair how ever is most comfortable, and then begin by taking the right piece and cross it over the middle piece and then grab a piece of hair all the way from the front of your head and add it to the right section.
3. Then take the left piece and cross it over the middle and then take a piece all the way from the front again but this time on the left side of your head and add it to the left section.
4. Continue steps 3 and 4 all the way down your head. As the hair gets shorter and less thick, the tighter you should make your braid.
5. Once you have all of the hair up, just continue braiding the three original pieces into a regular braid until you are left with little hair.
6. Tie it in a hair tie and your done!

Waterfall Braid

1. For this type of braid, start from the side of your head.
2. Get a little piece of hair and split it into three sections.
3. You cross over as if to French braid and grab a section from the right and add it to the right piece. This is exactly like the steps 3 and 4 of the French Braid.
4. Then when you go to cross the piece on the bottom, you drop the piece instead and pick up a new piece. Opposite of what you do for a French Braid.
5. Then continue and cross and grab from the top.
6. Then grab and drop that piece and grab a new piece.
7. Continue steps 4-6 until you cross all the way over your head.
8. Then you can continue a regular braid and style however you like!