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SkinPreliminary grade

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% weight
27/100

How strong is the published human science?

Human data depth8/40
Regulatory & registry status4/30
Reproducibility & consistency9/20
Mechanism characterized in humans6/10

Sourcing & COA

30% weightOur moat
53/100

Can a buyer obtain an independently-verified, high-purity version? — our proprietary layer.

Independent 3rd-party testing18/35
Verified purity %15/30
COA transparency & batch traceability11/20
Multi-vendor verified availability9/15

Safety & Risk

25% weight
79/100

What is the real-world harm potential?

Documented AEs / toxicity34/40
Contraindication breadth20/25
Regulatory warnings13/20
Therapeutic index / margin12/15

Practicality

10% weight
73/100

How easy is it to actually run a verified version?

Verified-source availability24/35
Cost / value per cycle18/25
Reconstitution & administration20/25
Storage & stability11/15

Sources & Citations

Every claim cites a primary source. Citations are machine-audited against NCBI — see methodology.

PepScore52/100 · C
Last gradedJune 28, 2026
Next re-grade triggerA well-designed double-blind RCT for androgenic alopecia would be the primary grade mover.

Educational only — not medical advice. PepScore is an educational research grade, not a prescription or dosing recommendation. Some vendor links are affiliate links — this never affects grades. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any compound.