--- title: "AHK-Cu: Dosage, Side Effects & Prices | BodyHackGuide" url: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/ahk-cu description: "AHK-Cu: dosing protocols, mechanism & side effects. Compare 2 current vendor prices." lang: en --- Skip to content Compare notes on r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) Compare notes with other researchers. Join r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) # AHK-Cu Skin & Hair: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/wiki#cat-skin-&-hair Status Preclinical,, not approved for human use Evidence Organ culture and cell work only, graded on the Peptides for Hair Growth bench (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/stack/hair-growth-peptides) AHK-Cu is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu. Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a synthetic structural analog with enhanced copper-chelating affinity. Reviewed 25 October 2026 01 Overview ## What AHK-Cu is Both peptides activate hair follicle stem cells and promote keratinocyte proliferation, but AHK-Cu appears to have stronger follicle-stimulating activity in some preclinical comparisons. Research applications center on androgenetic alopecia, scalp vascularity, and wound healing, typically in topical formulations or via mesotherapy injection. AHK-Cu is used in cosmetic compounding for scalp treatments targeting hair miniaturization. ### How it works AHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (antioxidant), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The tripeptide backbone penetrates stratum corneum via carrier-mediated transport and targets the dermal papilla. AHK-Cu activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hair follicle stem cells — a pathway central to follicle growth phase (anagen) initiation. Copper also stimulates VEGF expression in follicular epithelium, improving the perifollicular microvasculature that sustains the dermal papilla. ### Benefits listed - Hair follicle stimulation — activates anagen phase via Wnt/β-catenin in dermal papilla cells - Reduction of follicle miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia models - Enhanced scalp vascularity via VEGF upregulation - Wound healing acceleration — copper cofactor for lysyl oxidase and collagen maturation Show 1 more Show less - Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations 02 Research Free with email ## What the research shows ### Graded on a research bench Reference pages that put AHK-Cu next to the compounds people pair it with: roles, evidence, overlap and conflicts. No dosing. Research use only. - Peptides for Hair Growth Organ culture and cell work only human data on 4 of 6 compounds on the bench: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/stack/hair-growth-peptides ### Unlock the Research section Enter your email to keep reading. It is free, and it opens these sections on every compound page in this browser. - A link to the PubMed results You also get the free peptide cheat sheet by email. Unsubscribe anytime. Have an account? Sign in (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/auth) 03 Safety ## AHK-Cu side effects and interactions ### Side effects #### Common - Mild scalp irritation at high concentrations (>1%) - Temporary skin discoloration with copper accumulation #### Serious events - No systemic toxicity documented at topical doses - Very low absorption through intact skin ### Interactions Not in our record Our record lists no interactions for AHK-Cu. That means none are recorded here, not that none exist. This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds. Need bloodwork before starting? Full hormone + metabolic panels from Anabolic Insights. Code CHONCH for first-order discount. Order Bloodwork (https://anabolicinsights.ai/?ref=nwm2zjb) 04 Dosing Free with email ## AHK-Cu dosage and protocols Dosing Once daily Common vials 50mg, 100mg ### Unlock the Dosing section - Route and how often - Common vial sizes 05 Prices ## AHK-Cu prices 5 listings from 2 vendors, opening in the Featured order. Pack prices $44.99 to $93.00 Lowest per mg $0.065/mg Vendors 2 Listings 5 (vial, powder) Prices as the vendors list them, last recorded 5 September 2026. Size Form Sort | Vendor | Product | Price | Buy | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Image: Disguised Alpha logo (https://disguisedalpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/disguised-logo-3x.webp) Disguised Alpha: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/disguised-alpha | AHK-Cu vial, 1 vial In stock | $44.99 No mg count | Buy AHK-Cu at Disguised Alpha: https://disguisedalpha.com/product/ahk-cu/?coupon=reddit | | Image: Disguised Alpha logo (https://disguisedalpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/disguised-logo-3x.webp) Disguised Alpha: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/disguised-alpha | AHK-Cu Raw Powder powder, raw powder In stock | $64.99 No mg count | Buy AHK-Cu Raw Powder at Disguised Alpha: https://disguisedalpha.com/product/ahk-curaw/?coupon=reddit | | Image: Ion Peptide logo (https://ionpeptide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ion-peptide-logo-1-300x148.jpg) Ion Peptide: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/ion-peptide | AHK-Cu 50mg vial, 1 vial Out of stock | $1.26/mg $63.00 | View AHK-Cu 50mg at Ion Peptide: https://ionpeptide.com/product/ahk-cu-100mg/?ref=reddit15 | | Image: Ion Peptide logo (https://ionpeptide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ion-peptide-logo-1-300x148.jpg) Ion Peptide: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/ion-peptide | AHK-Cu Raw 1g powder, 1g In stock | $0.065/mg $65.00 Lowest per mg | Buy AHK-Cu Raw 1g at Ion Peptide: https://ionpeptide.com/product/ahk-cu-raw-1g/?ref=reddit15 | | Image: Ion Peptide logo (https://ionpeptide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ion-peptide-logo-1-300x148.jpg) Ion Peptide: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/ion-peptide | AHK-Cu 100mg vial, 1 vial In stock | $0.930/mg $93.00 | Buy AHK-Cu 100mg at Ion Peptide: https://ionpeptide.com/product/ahk-cu-100mg/?ref=reddit15 | Vendors selling AHK-Cu(2: trust score, certificates, payment, shipping) - Disguised Alpha (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/disguised-alpha)2 listings, from $44.99 Trust Score 50/100 (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendor-trust-scorecard), 0 of 36 certificate records read, pays by card, crypto, bank transfer, ships to the US, the EU, the UK - Ion Peptide (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/ion-peptide)3 listings, from $63.00 Trust Score 70/100 (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendor-trust-scorecard), no certificate records on file, pays by card, crypto, ACH, ships to the US, international destinations Every supplier above is graded 0 to 100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and active listings. Methodology published, no pay-to-rank. How we score these vendors (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/scorecard) Price history(2 days with a recorded price) Review AHK-Cu ### Sign in to leave a review Reviews on BodyHackGuide are tied to verified user accounts and moderated before publishing. Sign in (free, no spam) to share your experience with AHK-Cu. 06 Chemistry ## Chemistry and structure Molecular mass 415.94 g/mol Amino acid sequence Ala-His-Lys (AHK); alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. AHK-Cu is the 1:1 copper(II) chelate of this tripeptide. Half-life Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) 07 Related ## Related to AHK-Cu ### In the same category - Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Marketed topical cosmetic ingredient Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (INCI: Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 in older nomenclature, commercially known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide designed as a competitive inhibitor of the SNARE complex at the neuromuscular junction.: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/acetyl-hexapeptide-8 - Melanotan 2Discontinued A synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist studied for skin tanning, sexual function, and appetite suppression.: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/melanotan-2 - MinoxidilFDA-Approved Minoxidil is an FDA-approved treatment for pattern hair loss. Originally an oral blood-pressure drug, its hair-growth side effect led to the topical products (Rogaine) at 2% and 5%.: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/minoxidil - Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4Marketed topical cosmetic ingredient with a small set of human cosmetic trials Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is the cosmetic ingredient Pal-KTTKS, a five-amino-acid fragment of the type I collagen propeptide with a 16-carbon palmitic acid chain attached, sold to formulators under the trade name Matrixyl (PubChem CID 9897237; PMID: 8486721).: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/palmitoyl-pentapeptide-4 - PDRNPhase 4 PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) is a biotechnological compound derived from salmon sperm DNA (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through extraction, purification, and fractionation.: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/pdrn - PTD-DBMPreclinical PTD-DBM is a synthetic peptide that joins a protein transduction domain, which carries the peptide into cells, to the Dishevelled-binding motif (DBM) of the protein CXXC5, and it was built to block CXXC5 from binding Dishevelled so that Wnt/beta-catenin signalling stays switched on.: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/ptd-dbm All compounds (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/wiki) ### Compare AHK-Cu - AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/ghk-cu-vs-ahk-cu - Alternatives to AHK-Cu: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/alternatives-to/ahk-cu All comparisons (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare) ### Research tools - Peptide Calculator Reconstitution and syringe units: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/reconstitution - Reconstitution Guide How to mix, step by step: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides/how-to-reconstitute-peptides - Nasal Spray Calc mL per actuation: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/intranasal - Half-Life Visualizer Decay curves: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/halflife All articles (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/blog) 08 Questions ## Frequently asked questions What is AHK-Cu used for in research? AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a synthetic structural analog with enhanced copper-chelating affinity. Both peptides activate hair follicle stem cells and promote keratinocyte proliferation, but AHK-Cu appears to have stronger follicle-stimulating activity in some preclinical comparisons. Research applications center on androgenetic alopecia, scalp vascularity, and wound healing, typically in topical formulations or via mesotherapy injection. AHK-Cu is used in cosmetic compounding for scalp treatments targeting hair miniaturization. What forms does AHK-Cu come in? AHK-Cu is available in vial, powder forms. How do I compare AHK-Cu vendors? Compare prices, payment methods, shipping, and COA scores across 2 vendors. How many vendors sell AHK-Cu, and what does it cost per mg? 2 of the vendors BodyHackGuide tracks list AHK-Cu (5 listings). Among BodyHackGuide's AHK-Cu listings recorded as in stock with a milligram count, the lowest price per milligram is $0.065/mg at Ion Peptide and the median is $0.498/mg. The AHK-Cu prices on BodyHackGuide are vendors' listed prices as BodyHackGuide last recorded them, not transactions; the most recent recorded change to a AHK-Cu listing is dated 5 September 2026. Which vendors have third-party COAs for AHK-Cu on file at BodyHackGuide? BodyHackGuide holds 9 third-party certificate records for AHK-Cu, from. No editor has read any of BodyHackGuide's 9 certificate records for AHK-Cu. The laboratory named on BodyHackGuide's AHK-Cu certificate records is Freedom Diagnostics Testing, and the newest test date on them is 6 September 2026. Each vendor page on BodyHackGuide shows how many certificate records BodyHackGuide holds for that vendor and links to each record that has its own page. Free 2026 Peptide Cheat Sheet (PDF) 38 compounds and blends: vial sizes, BAC water volumes, dosing ranges and bloodwork markers. Download Free (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides/peptide-cheat-sheet-download) BodyHackGuide (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/) Your biohacking research hub: compound pricing, brain health protocols, dosing tools, and vendor reviews. support@bodyhackguide.co Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/Mhq5UdRYBA r/BodyHackGuide on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/BodyHackGuide **Affiliate Disclosure:** We rank every vendor on the same public, reproducible methodology (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/methodology). Full details in our affiliate disclosure (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/affiliate-disclosure). **Research Disclaimer:** All compounds listed are for laboratory and research purposes only. Not for human consumption. This site does not sell or ship any products. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional and comply with local regulations. © 2026 BodyHackGuide. All rights reserved. - Terms: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/terms - Privacy: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/privacy ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.bodyhackguide.co/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Compounds", "item": "https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "AHK-Cu" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Product", "name": "AHK-Cu", "description": "AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). 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