Final answer:
The chemistry of relaxers and permanent waving is not exactly the same; while both processes change hair structure by affecting disulfide bonds, they achieve different outcomes (curls vs. straightening) and involve different steps.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the chemistry of relaxers and permanent waving is exactly the same is false. While both processes involve the disruption and reformation of disulfide bonds in the hair strands, the end goals and the way the hair is treated in each process differ. In the permanent waving process, a reducing agent, usually ammonium thioglycolate, is applied to break some of the disulfide links, allowing the hair to be reshaped around forms which, when oxidized, take on a new shape to produce curls. On the other hand, relaxers typically break these bonds but instead of curling, the hair is flattened to achieve a straight look.