AHK-Cu dosage and evidence
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
The short answer
AHK-Cu is a copper peptide sold as the hair growth cousin of GHK-Cu. It has only been shown to push hair follicle cells to grow in a dish. There is no human trial.
Evidence grade for AHK-Cu: Animal or lab only. The rule: only animal or lab studies on this page. No study in people yet. The sum on this page: 1 animal study, 1 lab study, no human study. A grade counts how much has been done to people, not whether it works.
- People given it
- 0
- Human studies
- 0
- Found nothing
- 0
Dose
No human dose established
No published study on this page has given this compound to people and reported a result.
1 animal study, 1 lab study, no human study
2 effects reported, 2 unwanted, by people using it, not a trial
Goal pages: Skin, hair and appearance
In plain English
In plain English, from Aaron
This is how I would explain it to a friend. The evidence, with the numbers, is further down the page.
AHK-Cu is a copper peptide sold for hair growth. It is a cousin of GHK-Cu. It is in lots of scalp serums. Nobody has tested whether it grows hair on a human head.
What people take it for
- Thicker hair.
- Firmer skin.
What studies in people showed
There are no human studies. In a dish, it made hair follicle cells more active. In a 1993 rat study, a copper peptide on the skin made hair follicles bigger. That peptide was not named as AHK-Cu.
What people report
Reports, not study results
The good
- We have not collected user reports on this one yet.
The bad
- No human hair growth data.
- The same copper cautions as GHK-Cu apply.
Where these come from: The findings come from the dish and rat studies on this page. We have no user reports.
My bottom line
A serum with it is probably harmless and probably not a hair plan. For real hair loss, start with a doctor.
An opinion, not a finding. I am a coach, not a doctor.
What it has been measured to do
Animal and lab work, not yet tested in people
Real results, but from animals or cells, not people. What works in a mouse often does not work the same way in a person. Nobody can patent this, so nobody would ever earn back the cost of a study in people. That is usually why there is none.
- Hair1 animal or lab study
35 of the 36 indexed goals have no study of any kind behind AHK-Cu
No study in people, animals or cells on this page reports a result for these. That does not prove AHK-Cu does nothing for them. It does mean anything you have heard about AHK-Cu and one of these did not come from a study cited here.
Show full evidence
What is AHK-Cu?
AHK-Cu is a copper peptide sold as the hair growth cousin of GHK-Cu. It has only been shown to push hair follicle cells to grow in a dish. There is no human trial.
AHK-Cu is copper bound to a different three building block peptide from GHK. Its direct evidence is one 2007 dish study. The copper peptide made cells from the base of the hair follicle multiply and make more VEGF, a blood vessel growth signal. Older, broader support comes from a 1993 rat study. A copper peptide put on the skin of fuzzy rats made their hair follicles bigger, about as much as minoxidil in the authors' view. That peptide was not named as AHK-Cu. AHK-Cu is widely used in scalp serums and sold as a raw peptide. Nobody has tested whether it grows hair in people. The same copper cautions as GHK-Cu apply.
How does AHK-Cu work?
In a dish, the copper peptide pushed follicle base cells to multiply and make more VEGF, a blood vessel growth signal.
The evidence, in charts
Fig. 1a · how many people
0people have taken this in any study cited here
0 people · 0 studies in people
What this page cites instead is 1 animal study and 1 lab study in a dish. None of them gave the compound to a person.
Counted from the list of sources on this page. We draw this chart only when a study in people is cited. An empty one is the answer, not a gap in the page.
Fig. 1b · evidence mix
None of the 2 sources here are studies in people.
- Animal study · done in animals150%
- Lab (cells in a dish) · cells or tissue150%
Counted from the list of sources on this page. It counts only what we cite, so there may be more studies out there. A review counts once, however many studies it sums up.
Fig. 2 · evidence over time
Sources here come from just two years, 1993 and 2007.
Too few different years on this page to draw a timeline. The newest source on file is from 2007, more than five years ago. Research on it may have gone quiet.
Fig. 3 · legal status at a glance
US
Not approved
UK
Not approved
AU
Not approved
CA
Not approved
Not approved in any of the four countries shown. This is what the law says, not a verdict on the science. See Legal status below for the full text and any notes.
Fig. 4 · how much does what
Nobody has tested different amounts in people
This chart would show how the effect changes as the amount goes up. For this compound, nobody has measured that in people. So we leave it empty. We will not borrow an animal chart and pretend it works the same in people.
Fig. 5 · what the molecule is
- Kind of compound
- Peptide
- Molecule weight
- 354.4 Da for the AHK tripeptide; PubChem lists the AHK-Cu chloride complex at 451.4 Da
- Half-life
- Stated in words, not a numbersee the exact wording below
- Chain length
- None on file
No amino acid sequence is on file for AHK-Cu, so none is drawn rather than guessed from a name.
The studies we cite
- Animal study1993Chemical agents and peptides affect hair growth
In rats. A copper peptide on the skin made hair follicles bigger, about as much as minoxidil in the authors' view. It was not AHK-Cu, so this is about copper peptides in general.
A topical copper-binding peptide (PC1031) enlarged follicles on the back skin of fuzzy rats to an extent the authors compared with topical minoxidil. The peptide tested was not identified as AHK-Cu, so this is class-level animal evidence for copper peptides rather than evidence for AHK-Cu itself.
- Lab (cells in a dish)2007The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro
In a dish. Hair follicle cells became more active.
Increased hair follicle cell activity in culture.
Where to buy AHK-Cu
48 sellers list AHK-Cu in our latest read. They are ranked by trust score, then by archive rating, then by certificate tier, then by the lowest price per milligram. Archive evidence is counted before source-backed. Each path is out of 4, and the two are not added. A higher price does not raise the score. The letter is the certificate chip. 1 of them has a published certificate that names AHK-Cu.
Some seller links may pay this site when you buy through them. A payment never changes a seller's tier or rank, and no seller has a say in any page.
| Seller | Trust score | Vial sizes | From, per mg | Certificate for AHK-Cu | Seller link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Labs | 80 StrongSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 20 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.640 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Nationwide Peptides | 80 StrongSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 20 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.640 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Legendary Peptides | 75 StrongSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.A | 50 mg | $0.880 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| ezPeps | 73 StrongSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.530 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| General Peptides | 73 StrongSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 20 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.640 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peak Lab Peptides | 73 StrongSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.880 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| PeptideRUO | 72 StrongSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.340 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Modern Research Peptides | 67 FairSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 4 of 4.LC | 100 mg | $0.380 | Lab-confirmed certificate, Freedom Diagnostics2 files name AHK-Cu | View |
| NuLife Peptides | 67 FairSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.B | 100 mg | $0.650 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| AIO Peptides | 66 FairSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.B | 100 mg | $0.552 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peptide Plugs | 65 FairSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.500 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| PeptidePlugs | 65 FairSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.500 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| PeptidePharm | 63 FairSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.480 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Kalyx Labs | 62 FairSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.950 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Ion Peptide | 60 FairSource-backed 2 of 4. Archive evidence 0 of 4.C | 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.390 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| StrikePoint Peptides | 58 FairSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.B | 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.780 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peak Peptides | 55 FairSource-backed 2 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.700 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Protide Health | 50 FairSource-backed 2 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.950 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peptide Giants | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.300 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Riptide Labs | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.320 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Elite Edge Biotech | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.425 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peptify Labs | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.500 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Novara Peptides | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 50 mg | $0.700 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peptide Labs | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 100 mg | $0.870 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Core Peptides Official | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 200 mg | $0.900 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Liberty Peptides | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 50 mg | $0.960 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Arizona Peptides US | 49 WeakSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.A | 50 mg | $1.10 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Peptide Shop A | 49 WeakSource-backed 2 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.B | 200 mg | $0.960 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| USA Peptide Science Shop | 45 WeakSource-backed 2 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.B | 200 mg | $1.00 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Averix Labs | 45 WeakSource-backed 2 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.500 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Proxiva Labs | 40 WeakSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.600 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| APR Health Solutions | 40 WeakSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.950 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Limitless Biotech ST | 36 WeakSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 20 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg | $0.640 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Lejian Biotech Peptide | 35 WeakSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 200 mg | $0.975 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Republic Peptide | 33 WeakSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.400 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Trutide Solutions | 33 WeakSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 50 mg | $0.600 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Boston Molecules | 28 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 10 mg | $81.0 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Nuscience Peptides | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.700 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Neuro Labs | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.847 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Huaian Hanyou Peptide | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 200 mg | $0.975 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| MJA Peptides | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 200 mg | $0.975 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| ZL Peptides | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.C | 200 mg | $0.975 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Elutide | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 0 of 4.C | 100 mg | $0.490 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Pure Health Peptides | 25 InsufficientSource-backed 1 of 4. Archive evidence 0 of 4.C | 50 mg, 100 mg | $0.490 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Rocky Mountain Compounds | 23 InsufficientSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.Letter withheld | 100 mg | $0.304 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Oneday Compounds | 23 InsufficientSource-backed 4 of 4. Archive evidence 1 of 4.Letter withheld | 100 mg | $0.455 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| RUO | 18 InsufficientSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 2 of 4.Letter withheld | 100 mg | $0.380 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
| Biostrategix | 0 InsufficientSource-backed 3 of 4. Archive evidence 0 of 4.Letter withheld | 100 mg | $0.550 | None found for AHK-Cu | View |
- LC Lab-confirmed: the issuing laboratory echoed this certificate back
- A Current certificate, independent laboratory named, laboratory not yet checked
- B Certificate published, but no laboratory link, older than a year, or the laboratory did not recognise the published lookup
- C No certificate could be read
Every listing and vial size for AHK-Cu · How the trust score is counted
Sellers named on the price pages are ranked by certificate tier, then price, and any affiliate income is disclosed there. Naming a seller is not a recommendation to buy or use anything.
Common questions
Has AHK-Cu been tested in people?
Not in any study cited here. AHK-Cu is a copper peptide sold as the hair growth cousin of GHK-Cu. It has only been shown to push hair follicle cells to grow in a dish. There is no human trial.
What is the AHK-Cu dosage?
No human dose established. No published study on this page has given this compound to people and reported a result. 1 animal study, 1 lab study, no human study
Is AHK-Cu FDA-approved?
Cosmetic ingredient; not a drug
AHK-Cu or GHK-Cu for hair?
Neither has a human hair growth trial. GHK-Cu has more skin data. AHK-Cu has one dish study on hair.
Latest reading on AHK-Cu
Blog posts about AHK-Cu, newest first.