What is Copper Peptide AHK-Cu?

Copper Peptide AHK-Cu is a lab-made copper complex of the tripeptide alanine-histidine-lysine. The supplied evidence frames it as a cosmetic and research ingredient for hair and scalp products, not as an approved hair-loss drug.

How is AHK-Cu proposed to work?

The proposed activity involves copper-peptide signaling in follicle biology. Source evidence focuses on dermal papilla cells and isolated follicles, where AHK-Cu was associated with cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis markers, and changes in Bcl-2 and Bax. These findings have not been established as hair-growth outcomes in living people.

Is Copper Peptide AHK-Cu FDA approved?

No. The source lists Copper Peptide AHK-Cu as not FDA approved and describes its current status as cosmetic use in hair care products.

What side effects or cautions are reported for AHK-Cu?

The source lists it as generally well-tolerated but also flags skin irritation, rare allergic reactions, possible copper-toxicity risk when combined with other copper sources, and a contraindication with Wilson's disease.

What typical dose is reported for AHK-Cu?

The source does not provide a quantified typical dose. It reports limited community data, refers readers to research dosing, and lists topical scalp serums or solutions as the administration format.

Skin & Hair Research - early research

Copper Peptide AHK-Cu

Also known as: Tripeptide-3, Ala-His-Lys Copper

At a glance

PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026

What it is

Topical copper tripeptide researched for hair and scalp biology, with limited preclinical evidence.

Status

Research

Evidence level: early research

Typical dose

Limited community data available

Topical

Researched for

Hair growth, scalp health, hair thickness

Trial progress

PrePreclinical
IPhase I
IIPhase II
IIIPhase III
IVPhase IV
FDAFDA approved

Preclinical - Limited evidence and no established human dosing

Use the tools

In plain language

Synthetic copper complex of alanine-histidine-lysine, also listed as Tripeptide-3 and Ala-His-Lys Copper.
Positioned in the source as a cosmetic and research hair-care ingredient for hair growth, scalp health, and hair thickness.
Source status: cosmetic use in hair care products; not FDA approved.
Evidence level is limited research, with the cited work focused on human hair follicles and dermal papilla cells outside the body.
Typical dose is not quantified; source notes limited community data and topical scalp serums or solutions.

How it's thought to work

AHK-Cu is described as a copper-bound alanine-histidine-lysine tripeptide. In the supplied material, its proposed hair-related mechanism is centered on copper signaling in follicle-associated biology, especially dermal papilla cells. Reported cell and isolated-follicle findings include increased dermal papilla cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis markers, and a shift in survival-related proteins with higher Bcl-2 and lower Bax. The source explicitly limits these mechanistic observations to cells and isolated follicles rather than proven human scalp outcomes.

What the research shows

Where the research stands

The main research signal supplied is a 2007 Archives of Pharmacal Research study by Pyo and colleagues. The source states that AHK-Cu was tested outside the body using human hair follicles and dermal papilla cells. At low concentrations, it reportedly increased isolated follicle length and dermal papilla cell proliferation while lowering apoptosis-related markers. The source also notes a narrow dose-response pattern in which higher concentrations no longer showed the same activity. The important limitation is that the source does not identify randomized controlled human trials showing that topical AHK-Cu regrows or thickens scalp hair in people.

What it shows

✓ Early research

Limited evidence and no established human dosing

△ Limitations

Early research findings may not translate directly to human outcomes.

Bottom line: Cosmetic use - Hair care products Not FDA Approved

Typical dosing

CommunityCommunity dataset

Limited community data available

See research protocols

Range: See research dosing

Community reporting did not provide a quantified amount and points back to research dosing information.

Research dosing

Early researchEarly research - limited data

Doses observed in studies

Topical solutions and serums

Research Literature - Observed in studies

Early research findings may not translate directly to human outcomes.

Duration: 3-6 months for visible results
Administration: Topical (scalp serums, solutions)

Timing & administration

Best time to take

Morning or as directed

Follow recommended protocol

Food recommendation

With or without food

Why this timing?

The source does not identify a precise timing requirement; it indicates that timing may depend on response and goals, while regular protocol adherence matters more than a specific time of day.

Possible side effects

Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.

Generally well-tolerated
Skin irritation
Allergic reactions
Risk of copper toxicity if combined with copper sources
Contraindicated with Wilson's disease

Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.

Sources

PubMed ClinicalTrials.gov FDA.gov

Frequently asked questions

Sequence

Ala-His-Lys-Cu(II) complex (AHK-Cu)

One open dataset

Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.

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Educational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.

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Copper Peptide AHK-Cu

In plain languageIn plain language

How it's thought to workHow it's thought to work

What the research showsWhat the research shows

Typical dosing

Research dosing

Timing & administrationTiming & administration

Possible side effectsPossible side effects

SourcesSources

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions