AHK-Cu
A copper tripeptide with a hair-regrowth signal in limited studies — well-tolerated, but the human evidence base is thin.
Verdict — C · Emerging / Mixed
Mechanistically plausible and well-tolerated, but the human evidence base for AHK-Cu specifically is thin. A C-grade cosmetic peptide for the informed buyer; do not expect the evidence base of minoxidil or finasteride.
Overview
AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys copper chelate) is a synthetic copper tripeptide with proposed hair follicle-stimulating activity, primarily studied as a topical ingredient for androgenic alopecia. In-vitro and limited ex-vivo studies suggest effects on follicle cell proliferation. Human clinical data are sparse; the primary evidence base is proprietary cosmetic studies. The safety profile is favorable given its similarity to other copper tripeptides, but the evidence is thin relative to established hair-loss treatments.
PepScore Breakdown — the four axes
Evidence
35% weightHow strong is the published human science?
Sourcing & COA
30% weightOur moatCan a buyer obtain an independently-verified, high-purity version? — our proprietary layer.
Safety & Risk
25% weightWhat is the real-world harm potential?
Practicality
10% weightHow easy is it to actually run a verified version?
Sources & Citations
Every claim cites a primary source. Citations are machine-audited against NCBI — see methodology.
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