AHK-Cu_Dosage, benefits & legal status
Also known as AHK copper, Ala-His-Lys copper, copper tripeptide-2
GHK-Cu's less-studied cousin, sold mainly for hair.
Common vial size is what vendors typically sell, not a recommendation. Enter your own vial in the calculator.
21 of 28 listings we track are vials, the form used for injection.
Our guide examines what people are actually doing with it, and what the published evidence does not establish.
What is AHK-Cu?
Plain language first. The technical label stays, but it never stands alone.Overview
It is the same idea as GHK-Cu with far less research behind it.
AHK-Cu is a copper peptide, the same family as GHK-Cu. It is three amino acids holding a copper atom, and copper is genuinely needed for building skin and blood vessels. It is sold mostly for hair rather than skin.
What it's used for
Applied to the scalp or skin, mostly marketed for hair thickness. It is applied to the scalp as a serum, sometimes with microneedling, and some buyers inject it.
How does AHK-Cu work?
What it does in the body, and where.Copper peptides work as a delivery system. The peptide part holds the copper and carries it where a plain copper salt could not go.
- 01Three amino acids hold a copper atomThat bond is the whole point. Loose copper is irritating and does not absorb well.
- 02Copper is needed to build skin and blood vesselsSeveral enzymes involved in making collagen and elastin will not work without it.
- 03The hair claim is the thinnest partMost of what is written about AHK-Cu leans on studies of GHK-Cu, which is a different molecule with a different first amino acid.
Where this compound is thought to act.
What else is it used for?
Each use below carries its own evidence level. Approved means regulators have cleared it for that purpose. Investigational means it is in trials. Early research means it is being studied and is not established.
- Hair thickness and follicle support, which is the main marketing claimEarly research
- Skin repair and collagen, borrowed from GHK-Cu research rather than its ownResearch only
The published record
Papers and trials about AHK-Cu
1 papers tagged human · 0 not reviews or lab · 0 clinical trial publications
Furthest stage reached: No clinical trial on record
Counted from Europe PMC indexing, not read by a person; a human tag can land on reviews, commentary or lab papers; clinical trial publications is the narrower count.
At a glance
Four things to know about AHK-Cu
Evidence
Cosmetic
Category
Skin and cosmetic
Common vial
50 mg
Half-life
Not measured, and not the right question
How much, and do you cycle it?
The range, and whether you take breaks.On the scalp: per product. Injected: no established amount, daily. Applied daily, with no established course Community practice
Treated like a skincare ingredient rather than a course of treatment. No study has tested a duration.
Not measured, and not the right questionNo figure
This is a topical cosmetic ingredient. A blood half-life measures how fast something leaves the bloodstream, and these are not intended to reach it in meaningful amounts. What matters for a topical is how much penetrates the skin and how long it stays in the tissue, which is a different measurement and one that is rarely published.
You can compare this against the whole library to see where it sits.
How do I dose and price it?
Enter your vial and your dose. Pick a mix. We show the draw and the cost.The vial holds a fixed amount of drug. Adding more water does not make more drug, it just spreads it thinner, so you draw a bigger number on the syringe for the same dose.
Choose your mix
Measuring the water1 mL = one full 100-unit syringe.
AHK-Cu starts at $28.00 across 26 vendors, typically $0.28 – $0.99 per mg.
28 listings, last read Oct 11, 2026. Shipping and card fees are not included.
How do you store it?
Before mixing, and after.Room temperature, out of light. Cap it tight after each use.
AHK-Cu ships as a cream, gel, or serum. Keep it at room temperature away from sun and heat unless the label says otherwise. Refrigerating an emulsion can split the texture. Watch for color, smell, or separation changes and stop using it if any appear.
What are the side effects and cautions?
Known cautions and warnings for this compound.Copper peptides and strong acids or vitamin C do not sit well together in the same routine, because the acid can pull the copper off the peptide. Use them at different times of day. Also check what you are buying: a lot of what is marketed as AHK-Cu is sold on the strength of GHK-Cu research, and they are different molecules.
Who should avoid it
- Known copper allergy
- Wilson's disease, a condition where copper builds up in the body
- Broken or badly irritated skin
Stop and get help
- A spreading rash or burning where it was applied
- Signs of an allergic reaction
Common effects
- Mild stinging or redness when first used
- A blue-green tint to the product, which is normal for copper
- Beyond that, little is documented, because little has been published
Where this page says nothing is established, that means nobody has studied it, not that a compound is safe.
Is AHK-Cu approved?
And where the numbers on this page come from.Not as a medicine. AHK-Cu is sold without a prescription as a cosmetic ingredient, which is a different thing from being approved as a drug.
- Injected under the skinResearch onlyNot an approved drug. Sold for research only.Injected AHK-Cu is not approved for any use, and no trial has tested injecting it in people.
- On the skinCosmeticSold as a cosmetic ingredientTopical AHK-Cu is sold as an ingredient in hair and skin products.
- RouteOn the skin, or injected under the skin
- Checked14 August 2026
- DoseFrom community reports. No regulator or trial established this dose.
- Vial sizeFrom what vendors typically list; not a recommendation.
- SourcesNone traced yet.
What has happened recently
We have not yet written a full regulatory note for this compound. The status above is current as of the date shown.
You can compare this against the whole library, or read how to check a seller.
What else is like AHK-Cu?
Others in Skin and cosmetic, side by side.If you're weighing AHK-Cu, it's worth reading GHK (copper-free), Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), and Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4) in the same class.
GHK-Cu's less-studied cousin, sold mainly for hair.
- Dose
- On the scalp: per product. Injected: no established amount
- How often
- Daily
The same tripeptide as the copper peptide, without the copper, and a different proposition because of it.
- Dose
- Serum, typically 1 to 2%
- How often
- Daily
A topical Botox-like peptide that softens fine lines, needle-free.
- Dose
- Serum, per product
- How often
- Daily
A topical collagen-boosting peptide that firms skin over time.
- Dose
- Serum, per product
- How often
- Daily
Guides for this compound
- How to Reconstitute a Peptide
Mix peptide powder with bacteriostatic water, step by step.
- How to Read an Insulin Syringe
Read the units, convert to millilitres, and draw the exact dose.
- mcg vs mg: The Peptide Dosing Mistake to Avoid
Your vial says mg and your protocol says mcg. Here is the conversion and how to check it.
- Why Does My Peptide Injection Itch or Welt
Injection-site irritation, a histamine reaction, or a true allergy, and how to tell them apart.
- How to Read a Peptide COA
What the purity number does and does not tell you, and how to spot an edited report.
Sources
No primary source has been traced for this compound yet. Treat everything on this page as unverified until one is. How we grade evidence
Beyond these, 1 records are indexed. Browse the records