You can try, but direct dyes never stick to my virgin white hair. I still have to bleach or pre-soften with peroxide.
Try pre-softening, just add neat peroxide to the hair, leave on for 20 minutes or so then shampoo out and add the direct dye. You may need to use a slightly darker lilac to get the shade you want on the whites
Thankyou! π
You can leave it for much less than 20 minutes. My mom does it for 5-10 and it works great.