During oxidative hair treatment, α-lipoic acids and their derivatives are particularly well suited for reducing hair damage and irritation of the scalp. By means of a method for oxidative hair treatment in which an oxidative cosmetic substance, containing at least one oxidation substance in a cosmetic carrier, is applied to the hair and rinsed off after an exposure time, wherein - a cosmetic substance containing at least one compound from the group formed from α-lipoic acid and its derivatives in a cosmetic carrier is applied just before the application of the oxidative cosmetic substance and is also rinsed off after an exposure time, and/or with the oxidative cosmetic substances containing, in addition, at least one compound from the group formed from α-lipoic acid and its derivatives, - it was possible successfully to reduce hair damage caused by oxidative processes, as well as to reduce irritation of the scalp.
