AHK-Cu
- Status
- Preclinical, , not approved for human use
- Evidence
-
Organ culture and cell work only, graded on the Peptides for Hair Growth bench
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
01Overview
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
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- Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations
02Research
Free with emailWhat 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.
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- A link to the PubMed results
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03Safety
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
This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds.
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04Dosing
Free with emailAHK-Cu dosage and protocols
- Dosing
- Once daily
- Common vials
- 50mg, 100mg
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- Route and how often
- Common vial sizes
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05Prices
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.
| Vendor | Product | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AHK-Cu vial, 1 vial In stock |
$44.99 No mg count |
Buy AHK-Cu at Disguised Alpha | |
|
AHK-Cu Raw Powder powder, raw powder In stock |
$64.99 No mg count |
Buy AHK-Cu Raw Powder at Disguised Alpha | |
|
AHK-Cu 50mg vial, 1 vial Out of stock |
$1.26/mg $63.00 |
View AHK-Cu 50mg at 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 | |
|
AHK-Cu 100mg vial, 1 vial In stock |
$0.930/mg $93.00 |
Buy AHK-Cu 100mg at Ion Peptide |
Vendors selling AHK-Cu(2: trust score, certificates, payment, shipping)
-
Disguised Alpha2 listings, from $44.99
Trust Score 50/100, 0 of 36 certificate records read, pays by card, crypto, bank transfer, ships to the US, the EU, the UK
-
Ion Peptide3 listings, from $63.00
Trust Score 70/100, 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
Price history(2 days with a recorded price)
06Chemistry
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)
08Questions
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.
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