Copper Peptide Stack
AKA AHK-Cu + GHK-Cu · Hair stack
Last reviewed 2026-10-30
Our read Opinion
Mostly a hair-care serum story.
Claims made by sellers, clinics and users. Not verified.
Hair density and growth plus skin firmness.
Two copper tripeptides: GHK-Cu for collagen and skin remodeling, AHK-Cu marketed specifically for hair follicles.
Evidence level: In vitro / theoretical
Some topical data for GHK-Cu; AHK-Cu is lab data only. No published human trials of this combination.
Both are cosmetic ingredients topically. Injectable use is unapproved and GHK-Cu injectable is not cleared for compounding.
Also sold pre-mixed as AHK-Cu + GHK-Cu Blend →Statuses change; check the linked primary sources.
Reasonable as a topical; the injectable version is unsupported.
| Field | GHK-Cu | AHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Cosmetic / Supplement | Cosmetic / Supplement |
| Regulatory status | Cosmetic ingredient; not FDA-approved as a drug | Cosmetic/research ingredient; no FDA-approved drug |
| Compounding status | Off Category 2, review pending | Unclear / not listed |
| FDA-approved indications | None | None |
| Categories | Skin & cosmetic, Longevity & mitochondrial | Skin & cosmetic |
| Claimed uses |
|
|
| Mechanism | A copper-binding tripeptide investigated for extracellular-matrix remodeling, collagen production and wound-repair signaling. Much of the broad regenerative mechanism literature is preclinical. | An alanine-histidine-lysine copper complex studied for dermal papilla cell proliferation and hair-follicle elongation. Evidence comes from cultured cells and isolated human follicles, not clinical hair-regrowth trials. |
| Evidence level | Small/early human studies | In vitro / theoretical |
| Evidence / Hype (opinion) | Evidence Hype | Evidence Hype |
| Momentum (opinion) | Rising | Watch |
| Routes | Topical, Injection | Topical |
| WADA | Verify | Verify |
| Where it stands (opinion) | Topical cosmetic evidence and experimental tissue-repair findings do not validate systemic use. FDA lists injectable GHK-Cu among withdrawn nominations with unresolved safety concerns. | A published ex vivo/in vitro study supports a laboratory hair-growth hypothesis. Clinical effectiveness and injectable safety remain unestablished; US bulk-compounding eligibility was not verified. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-30 | 2026-10-30 |
| News (30d) | 1 | 0 |
FDA.gov
The agency posted a revised list of bulk drug substances and their compounding categories.
Information only. Not medical advice. Describing a stack is not a recommendation to combine, obtain or use any compound. Ratings and "Our Take" are editorial opinion. Full disclaimer.