Direct Answer
AHK-Cu is a copper-bound tripeptide (alanine-histidine-lysine) sold as a cosmetic/research ingredient and promoted for hair. The only cited research is a single laboratory study on isolated hair follicles and cells in a dish — not on people. What we don't know: whether AHK-Cu does anything for hair or skin in living people — no human trials are cited.
Summary Table
Evidence Level
Preclinical
AI Summary
AHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine (Ala-His-Lys), sold as a cosmetic/research ingredient and marketed for hair. Evidence is preclinical: the only cited study (Pyo et al., Archives of Pharmacal Research, 2007; PMID 17703734) tested AHK-Cu on isolated human hair follicles in organ culture (ex vivo) and on cultured dermal-papilla cells (in vitro) — laboratory models, not living people. There are no cited controlled human trials and no cited animal outcome data, and the INCI name is not confirmed in the EU CosIng database. It should be read as a laboratory-studied ingredient, not an established hair or skin treatment.
Key Information
Classification
Key Takeaways
- What we don't know: whether AHK-Cu does anything for hair or skin in living people — no human trials are cited
- AHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide Ala-His-Lys, sold as a cosmetic/research ingredient
- The only cited research is a single laboratory study on isolated hair follicles and cells in a dish (ex vivo / in vitro)
Scientific Overview
In Plain English
AHK-Cu is a small peptide (three amino acids) joined to copper. Sellers promote it for hair. The research we could verify is one lab study done on hair follicles and cells in a dish — not on people. We could not find any human trials.
Scientific Details
AHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. A single cited study (Pyo et al., 2007) evaluated AHK-Cu on isolated human hair follicles (ex vivo organ culture) and cultured dermal-papilla cells (in vitro), reporting follicle elongation and increased cell proliferation in those models. No controlled human outcome trials are cited. Note that much copper-peptide skin literature concerns the unrelated GHK-Cu complex rather than AHK-Cu.
How It Works
AHK-Cu is described as a copper-delivering tripeptide. In a laboratory study it was applied to isolated human hair follicles (ex vivo) and dermal-papilla cells in culture (in vitro); these are observations in a dish and are not confirmed by controlled studies in people.
Mechanism of Action
Copper-peptide activity (laboratory models)
cell
As a copper-binding tripeptide, AHK-Cu was studied in isolated hair follicles (ex vivo) and dermal-papilla cells (in vitro), where it was associated with follicle elongation and cell proliferation. Characterized only at the laboratory level.
Comparisons
Evidence Level
Human Evidence
No controlled human outcome trials of AHK-Cu are cited.
Animal Evidence
No animal outcome studies are cited.
Cell Evidence
One cited study (Pyo et al., 2007, PMID 17703734) tested AHK-Cu on isolated human hair follicles in organ culture (ex vivo) and on cultured dermal-papilla cells (in vitro), reporting follicle elongation and increased proliferation in those lab models.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to a single laboratory (ex vivo / in vitro) study; there are no human trials, no cited animal outcome data, and the INCI name is not confirmed in CosIng.
Why This Grade
Graded preclinical: the only cited evidence is a single laboratory study on isolated hair follicles and dermal-papilla cells in culture (PMID 17703734). There are no controlled human trials, no cited animal outcome data, and no confirmed CosIng INCI entry. This grade reflects dish-level data only and is not evidence that AHK-Cu grows hair or improves skin in people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AHK-Cu?
AHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide alanine-histidine-lysine (Ala-His-Lys), sold as a cosmetic/research ingredient and marketed mainly for hair. Its INCI name is not confirmed in the EU CosIng database.
AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu: what's the difference?
They are different copper tripeptides. GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1) is glycine-histidine-lysine bound to copper; AHK-Cu is alanine-histidine-lysine bound to copper and is marketed mainly for hair. For AHK-Cu, the only cited independent study is a single laboratory (ex vivo / in vitro) experiment. Neither is an approved drug.
Is there evidence AHK-Cu grows hair?
Not in people. The only cited study (PMID 17703734) tested AHK-Cu on isolated human hair follicles and dermal-papilla cells in the lab (ex vivo / in vitro), where it increased follicle elongation and cell proliferation. There are no cited controlled human trials, so there is no evidence it grows hair on people.
What is AHK-Cu's INCI name?
We could not confirm an INCI name for AHK-Cu in the EU CosIng database. Some vendors label it 'Copper Tripeptide-3,' but we could not verify that as an official INCI name, so we don't use it.
References
- The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Archives of Pharmacal Research.Laboratory study of AHK-Cu on isolated human hair follicles (ex vivo) and cultured dermal-papilla cells (in vitro) — not a study in people. Cited only for the laboratory observation, not for any hair-growth benefit in people.Cell / In Vitrodoi:10.1007/BF02978833 →
Alternative Names
- Alanyl-Histidyl-Lysine copper
- Ala-His-Lys-Cu
- AHK copper peptide
Risks & Safety
- Not an approved medicine; sold as a cosmetic/research raw material with the usual patch-test considerations
- No controlled human safety data specific to AHK-Cu are cited
- Copper-containing ingredients can cause irritation or sensitivity in some people
- Material sold by research-chemical vendors is not quality-controlled and may be mislabeled
Claim Boundaries
ION BLUE is an educational research aggregator. This content summarizes published scientific literature. It is not medically reviewed, is not medical advice, and is not a recommendation to use any substance. Consult a licensed healthcare provider. The only cited AHK-Cu study (PMID 17703734) is a laboratory (ex vivo / in vitro) experiment; this entry makes no claim that AHK-Cu grows hair or improves skin in people. AHK-Cu's INCI name is not confirmed in the EU CosIng database, and the vendor name "Copper Tripeptide-3" is not used here.
This page summarizes published research and is for informational purposes only; it is not medical advice.