Highlighted hair, dark roots but can't afford upkeep

[Batbear]

Common question, but can't see how people ultimately got on.

My shoulder length hair has caramel highlights, but a change in our circumstances means i can't afford a hundred pound haircut and colour every 8 weeks (which is a stretch for how it looks anyway).

I don't have a mobile hairdresser any more as i moved and with a full time job and 2 smalls at home, time is always at a premium.

So what can i do at home? I do have some greys to hide as well as sorting out the roots. Any good tips for darker hair?

Root touch up ? Think it's nice and easy brand. About a fiver.

Is there a college with hair & beauty courses near you. I had a t section (roots) colour & cut & blow dry for £20 last week. I go regularly & have never had a bad cut, just takes a bit longer than in a salon. Also limited to tears time.

That should say term time not tears time!

Signing up for classes defo the best way, maybe get balayage the next time too. Aveda salons run lots of classes as their colour is very different to other brands so you often get fully trained hairdressers who have just changed brands/salons.

Feefeefs how does Balayage work with the odd strand of grey? Would it look OK still?

My local Celly's are brilliant. It's £11 for colour - complete bargain. I last had highlights about a year ago, and just get the roots re done. Still looks fine.

Have you got one near you??

Garnier Nutrisse hair dye is amazing imo. Every time I do my hair, at least one person asks where I've had my highlights done. Get the one with 'multi tonal technology' whatever the heck that means

I use Vidal Sassoon's Salonist hair dye - best thing ever. It comes in various colours in cool, neutral and gold, so you can choose the effect you want. I go for mid cool blonde and it's brilliant - reduces the red tones better than anything I've used before and is multi tonal so doesn't look 'flat'.

I get a colour flash which is cheaper than hilights and don't bother with a blow dry to save money. A colour flash is maybe like 15 foils I would guess? I've had it for years now and it's great cos v low maintenance- prob two or three times a year is enough and Once you've had a couple yoy get a good covering of colour and it's really natural and subtle- roots just blend in and it doesn't look stripey as get them in different places each time

I had this exact issue, and my hairdresser recommended balayage and then touching up my own roots to keep on top of the few greys I now have. It works really well.
I use Nice & Easy Root touch up (which is cheap) in light brown, and have some caramel colour balayage through the mid lengths and ends. Balayage is where they brush colour onto the hair, so it looks more natural - not like a block of blonde growing out all in one go that you get with highlights.
It is so much cheaper this way than trying to maintain highlights, especially when those pesky greys start appearing.

Loads of brilliant suggestions, thank you.

Just need to decide if i can manage past Christmas with it. I often make it curly when the roots need doing as its less noticable!

Lots of brilliant tips, i'm so glad i asked!

Look for a cheaper hairdresser? I use a local lady who has a room coverted to do hair. £55 for roots and cut.

Mindfullofmumble answered better than me!