✦ open me to read more about our south korean perm solutions
✦ made in south korea
chemistry & formula behind BKO perm solutions
every korean lash lift works the same basic way: step 1 breaks apart the disulfide bonds holding your client's lashes in their natural shape, so the hair can be reshaped around the rod. step 2 then reforms those bonds in the new, curled position — locking the shape in place. the difference between ZOOM, FLEX, and STANDARD comes down to which reducing agent step 1 uses to break those bonds, and how fast it can do it.
vicki meeting with our manufacturing partners in south korea
ZOOM — ammonium thioglycolate (TGA)
ZOOM's step 1 is built on ammonium thioglycolate, the salt form of thioglycolic acid and the most widely used reducing agent in professional perming. it breaks disulfide bonds quickly and reliably, which is why ZOOM processes fastest of the three (8–10 min). we reformulated it with a thicker base consistency, so it holds onto the lash without a separate viscosity powder.
FLEX — free-base cysteamine
FLEX uses cysteamine in its free-base form — a smaller, gentler reducing molecule than thioglycolate. the tradeoff is that pure (free-base) cysteamine is inherently unstable on its own, so our manufacturers incorporate skincare-like ingredients into the formula specifically to help keep the molecule controlled and stable. that's where FLEX's "skincare-like" feel actually comes from — it's a stabilizing necessity as much as it is a gentleness benefit.
STANDARD — cysteamine HCl
STANDARD uses the same active ingredient as FLEX — cysteamine — but in its hydrochloride (HCl) salt form. in this form, the molecule needs to shift out of its protonated state before it can start reducing disulfide bonds, which is what makes STANDARD's processing time longer and steadier (10–15 min). that slower activation curve is exactly what gives you more visual control over how far the curl develops.
(the HCl salt form is inherently more stable than free-base cysteamine, which is part of why STANDARD doesn't need the same stabilizing ingredients FLEX does.)
step 2 — the same oxidizer across all three
once the lashes are set on the rod, step 2 re-oxidizes those broken bonds back into disulfide bonds in their new shape. all three BKO formulas use hydrogen peroxide as that oxidizer, rather than sodium bromate (a common alternative in traditional perm neutralizers). the chemistry is the same regardless of which step 1 you chose — ZOOM, FLEX, and STANDARD all finish with the same step 2 reaction.
still not sure which step 1 is right for your client? take the quiz below — it takes less than a minute, and no email required.
✦ not sure which solution to choose?
find your perfect solution match
answer 6 quick questions about your client's lashes and your own preferences, and we'll recommend the right BKO solution — so you can shop with confidence.
By far the best KLL system I’ve tried! Super gentle and beginner friendly! It’s so gentle that I feel it’s hard to over process lashes with this system! Love and always have it stocked in my suite 💗
I love the formulation and how gentle it is on the lashes! This client has very thick long lashes that usually take much longer with other formulations but BKO was amazing! Will definitely be repurchasing 🤩
I can confidently say the BKO Korean lash lift solution exceeded every expectation. From the very first application, I noticed how gentle yet incredibly effective the formula was. My clients have consistently achieved beautifully lifted, healthy-looking lashes with and the results speak for themselves.
If you're a lash artist looking to elevate your services, this solution is absolutely worth adding to your kit <3
Such a great product! It smell is very minimal and it works so quick! All of my clients have had no complaints and felt no irritation! I love how it not only has the perm and neutralizer but also the nourishing cream because you don’t have to go out and find one for your product! There’s enough product in the packages you will have a lot extra to work with!
Had a hard time deciding on what brand to go through and decided to go with bko. No regrets at all! Used for a first time lash lift with no issues and I loved the extras!! Thank you!
I am in love with this cystemine system!! I normally use this mainly (still love the speedier formula for thicker lashes!) but this one makes me feel a ton safer with the slower processing time and allows me to feel confident that my clients will process low and slow and gives me time to tidy up my work area in between steps lol. I will always have this in stock!
