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Reconstituted color
№ 045

AHK-Cu

A peptide promoted for hair growth. A copper-binding tripeptide cousin to GHK-Cu, promoted specifically for hair-follicle support. Limited human data, most evidence is in vitro and topical formulation.

Skin
Evidence: Anecdotal

AHK-Cu: A peptide promoted for hair growth. A copper-binding tripeptide cousin to GHK-Cu, promoted specifically for hair-follicle support. Limited human data, most evidence is in vitro and topical formulation. AHK-Cu is a hair-focused cousin to GHK-Cu.

FDA ⓘ
Not approved
WADA
Not banned
Typical dose
Topical: 0.05-0.2% concentration
Half-life ⓘ
~2 hours topical
Route ⓘ
Topical (most common) or sub-q
Schedule
1-2x daily topical
In plain English

AHK-Cu is a hair-focused cousin to GHK-Cu. Same copper-binding family, different amino acid sequence, marketed for follicle support. Most evidence is in vitro and topical. Treat it like minoxidil's experimental sibling, slow, subtle, cumulative.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Grey area

Naturally-occurring copper peptide derivative. Federations don't address it specifically.

FDA ⓘ
Not approved

Not FDA approved as a drug. Approved as a cosmetic ingredient in some formulations.

Compounding ⓘ
Not classified

Not formally categorized in the FDA bulks lists.

WADA ⓘ
Not listed
Prescribed ⓘ

Not prescribed in conventional medicine.

Who it's for

  • →Users targeting hair-follicle support specifically
  • →Stack add-on alongside GHK-Cu for skin + hair routines
  • →Topical-only researchers

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Nothing visible yet.

  2. Week 4

    Scalp irritation should fade if it appeared early.

  3. Week 8

    Subtle follicle changes for responders. Most users see less than topical minoxidil produces.

Looking at AHK-Cu? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your exact dose

    Vial size + BAC water turns into the exact units to draw for AHK-Cu.

    Open calculator →
  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

    The companion supplements and the bloodwork worth tracking on this kind of protocol.

    Bloodwork guide →
  3. 3Save it & ask the Coach

    A free account saves your stack; membership adds the stack-aware AI Coach.

    Create free account →

How it works (mechanism)

Copper-binding tripeptide (alanine-histidine-lysine) similar to GHK-Cu in family but specialized for follicular activity. Activates dermal papilla cells in vitro.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Side effects

01Scalp irritation early
02Mild itching
03Rare: contact dermatitis

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Wilson's disease
  • ⚠Active scalp infection

Common mistakes

  • • Confusing it with GHK-Cu and using GHK-Cu protocols here
  • • Storing in plastic (copper binds plastic, use glass)
  • • Expecting fast follicle changes, visible response takes weeks
Free, no account needed

New to AHK-Cu? Grab the starter checklist.

Drop your email and we'll send the one-page first-cycle starter checklist, plus a heads-up if AHK-Cu changes legal status. No account needed.

No spam. No selling your email. Just the checklist and the occasional reclassification alert.

AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about AHK-Cu or your own stack. This is it working.

Trained only on Pepdex content. Does the dose math, flags interactions, knows your stack. Won't push vendors, won't pretend to be a doctor.

Get the Coach, $7.99/mo →

Frequently asked

What is AHK-Cu?+
AHK-Cu is a hair-focused cousin to GHK-Cu. Same copper-binding family, different amino acid sequence, marketed for follicle support. Most evidence is in vitro and topical. Treat it like minoxidil's experimental sibling, slow, subtle, cumulative.
Is AHK-Cu FDA approved?+
Not FDA approved as a drug. Approved as a cosmetic ingredient in some formulations.
Is AHK-Cu legal?+
AHK-Cu is not FDA-approved. It is sold by compounding pharmacies (with a prescription) and as "research only" by peptide vendors. Possession is generally not criminalized but distribution without authorization may be. Verify local laws.
Is AHK-Cu banned by WADA?+
AHK-Cu is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.
Are you still natty after taking AHK-Cu?+
Grey area. Naturally-occurring copper peptide derivative. Federations don't address it specifically.
Do doctors prescribe AHK-Cu?+
Not prescribed in conventional medicine.
What's the typical dose of AHK-Cu?+
Topical: 0.05-0.2% concentration, 1-2x daily. Sub-q: 1-2 mg daily, less commonly used.
What are the side effects of AHK-Cu?+
Common side effects include: Scalp irritation early; Mild itching; Rare: contact dermatitis. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until AHK-Cu starts working?+
Nothing visible yet.
What can you stack with AHK-Cu?+
Common pairings: GHK-Cu (the canonical skin pair); Topical minoxidil (different mechanism, additive in some users). Full stacking protocol and timing on the entry page.
Where do people get AHK-Cu?+
AHK-Cu is most commonly sold by research-only peptide vendors and by compounding pharmacies (the latter requires a prescription). Pepdex is not a vendor, see /coa for how to verify a Certificate of Analysis before buying from any source, and /guides/scam-vendor-spotting for vendor red flags.

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