Box dye over old highlights?

[Peppermint81]

Would really appreciate some advice!
My hair has not been dyed until I started having highlights (to cover/blend in greys), only top foils so nearly half have dark blonde/light brown/streaks of lighter blonde. Underneath is my natural hair (light brown).
I cannot afford the upkeep so was thinking of box dying with garnier nutriesse 'light blonde'. Then pay for a trim.

Would this work? Aware my highlighted bits would be lighter still but would still cover and look fairly the same?

If the maintenance is too much perhaps you ought to embrace the gray and just grow it out in it's natural colour.
I personally don't like box dyes. They always look like a box dye.

It might blend well with your hair! I've been using olia blonde dye since I've given up with bleaching my hair, and it lightens my roots to a dark blonde and it blends nicely into my previously bleached hair. (It's dye that doesn't use bleach, and it only lightens hair a few shades).

I'd say give it a try! It wouldn't hurt.

Alternatively, you could do your own at home highlights. You can buy highlighting caps online and buy bleach powder, developer + toner (go for 20 vol, it lifts slower and causes less damage). You can choose a toner that will give you the type of blonde you want.

Actually, in my experience, having highlights already when you use a box dye is a good thing - it creates a more natural finish as the highlighted bits will be a slightly different colour so you get gradiated colour rather than a definitive one shade. I usually get my hair professionally coloured and highlighted twice a year, and box dye in between and both my old and current hairdresser have commented on the fact that mine works well.

Having said that, i always use semi permanent box dye so not sure if that would be exactly the same with permanent colour although I think it would.

Depending on how many highlights you have/condnition of your hair, you might find that you have to do it twice or, if you're using semi permanent, that you have to redo it a bit sooner than you'd expect. That would potentially be true even at a salon, but x10 for box dyes.

@LetItGoHome not ready to embrace it! Early 40s and have young children!

@mcdonaldschip thank you, giving me confidence!! I was considering using Olia but read Nutriesse lasts longer? Also tempted with their newish Garnier Good in a tub?
As an inexperienced hair dyer I'm thinking tub will be easier?!?

@IdLikeToBeAFraser thank you! That's what I'm hoping different streaks will still be there but more blended with the rest.
Also brilliant idea to get highlights only once or twice a year! I'm not brave enough to do anything complicated at home

The tub is a good idea! It is a lot easier putting dye on if it's in a bowl compared to a bottle