Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the steam treatment of scalp hair, which hair was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia. The treatment is carried out with a device with a steam hood such that at the start of the steam treatment ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person is extracted automatically by a controllable extraction unit. This extraction unit is deactivated automatically after a preset time. In a more refined embodiment the ammonia emission within the steam hood is recorded continuously and measured as ammonia emission values and compared with a preset ammonia emission value, such that the extraction unit is deactivated automatically on reaching the preset ammonia emission value.