What is AHK-Cu? AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu explained
You'll see “AHK-Cu” on the labels of some hair and scalp products, often next to its better-known relative, GHK-Cu. This guide explains what AHK-Cu is, how it differs from GHK-Cu, what the research does and doesn't tell us, and how to use it. Biolabs Cosmetics makes topical cosmetics only, so this is all about how your hair and scalp look and feel.
In short: AHK-Cu is a small peptide (a chain of three amino acids) bound to copper. It's a close relative of GHK-Cu, with one amino acid swapped. In our hair and scalp formulas it works alongside conditioning ingredients to leave hair looking fuller and feeling softer, and your scalp feeling refreshed.
What is AHK-Cu?
AHK is a tripeptide, a chain of three amino acids: Alanine, Histidine and lysine (one-letter code K). When AHK binds a copper ion, it becomes AHK-Cu. Its full chemical name is L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺ (PubChem CID 168431292).
You'll find AHK-Cu in cosmetic hair and scalp products such as scalp serums, sprays and hair masks.
AHK-Cu on ingredient lists
GHK-Cu has a standard cosmetic ingredient (INCI) name, Copper Tripeptide-1 (COSMILE Europe: Copper Tripeptide-1). Suppliers use different names for AHK-Cu, and we couldn't confirm a single standard INCI name for it, so our ingredient lists call it simply “AHK-Cu”.
Our AHK-Cu Hair & Scalp Serum and AHK-Cu Hair & Scalp Spray share the same ingredient list:
Rosemary Hydrosol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, D-Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolysed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, AHK-Cu, Phenoxyethanol.
The Copper Peptide Hair Mask combines GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu with shea butter, avocado butter, jojoba oil, Jamaican castor oil and hyaluronic acid.
AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu
The two peptides differ by a single amino acid: AHK starts with alanine, while GHK starts with glycine. That small change makes them separate ingredients, so what's known about one doesn't automatically apply to the other.
| AHK-Cu | GHK-Cu | |
|---|---|---|
| Amino acids | Alanine, histidine, lysine | Glycine, histidine, lysine |
| Ingredient (INCI) name | No single confirmed INCI name. Listed as “AHK-Cu” on our labels. | Copper Tripeptide-1 |
| Published research | Very little, and all of it lab work. We couldn't find any human studies. | Studied since the 1970s, mostly in the lab, plus a few small human cosmetic studies |
| Where you'll find it at Biolabs | Hair & Scalp Serum, Hair & Scalp Spray, Hair Mask | Face serums, face creams, body lotion and the Hair Mask |
GHK occurs naturally in the body and has a much longer research history (Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero & Margolina, 2015). For the full story, read our guide to what GHK-Cu is.
What our AHK-Cu products are designed to do
Used regularly, our AHK-Cu hair and scalp products are designed to:
- Leave hair looking fuller
- Leave hair feeling softer and looking shinier
- Give you a refreshed-feeling scalp
The whole formula plays a part. The serum and spray also contain rosemary hydrosol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and D-panthenol, and the mask is rich in butters and plant oils. Results vary, and they're about how your hair and scalp look and feel.
What they won't do: AHK-Cu products are cosmetics, not medicines. If you're worried about hair loss, or your scalp is sore, itchy or flaky, see a doctor or dermatologist.
What the research does and doesn't tell us
- There's very little of it, and it's lab work. The main published study of AHK-Cu was carried out in a laboratory, on isolated human tissue and on cells cultured in dishes (ex vivo and in vitro work), not on people using a cosmetic (Pyo et al., 2007).
- Reviewers class it as experimental. A 2026 scientific review of short peptides lists the evidence for AHK-Cu as experimental, meaning lab-based, rather than clinical (Fan et al., 2026).
- We couldn't find any human studies. We found no published study of AHK-Cu in people, or of a finished cosmetic containing it.
- It isn't part of the GHK-Cu safety review. The US Cosmetic Ingredient Review assessment that covers copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) doesn't include AHK-Cu (Johnson et al. (Cosmetic Ingredient Review), 2018).
Our view: lab results don't show what a product will do on your scalp, so we don't make claims based on this research. We describe only how our products leave your hair and scalp looking and feeling.
How to use AHK-Cu hair and scalp products
- Patch test. Try a new product on a small area of skin before using it more widely.
- Serum: apply a few drops of the serum directly onto the scalp and hair roots once or twice daily. Massage gently with your fingertips. Don't rinse out. Use it on damp or dry hair.
- Spray: part your hair and spray the spray directly onto the scalp and roots once or twice daily, then massage in. Don't rinse out.
- Mask: once or twice a week, apply the Hair Mask generously to clean, damp hair and scalp. Leave it on for 5–10 minutes, or up to 15 minutes for deeper conditioning, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Keep products out of your eyes and stop using them if irritation occurs.
Biolabs AHK-Cu products
- 1% AHK-Cu Copper Peptide Hair & Scalp Serum (50ml): a lightweight leave-in serum, applied as drops.
- 1% AHK-Cu Copper Peptide Hair & Scalp Spray (60ml): the same formula in a leave-in spray.
- 2% GHK-Cu + 1% AHK-Cu Copper Peptide Hair Mask (230 g): a weekly rinse-off conditioning mask for softer, shinier-looking hair.
See all three in our Hair & Scalp collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is AHK-Cu?
AHK-Cu is a copper peptide: three amino acids (alanine, histidine and lysine) bound to copper. It's used in cosmetic hair and scalp products, and on our labels it's listed as “AHK-Cu”.
What's the difference between AHK-Cu and GHK-Cu?
They differ by one amino acid: AHK-Cu starts with alanine and GHK-Cu starts with glycine. GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1) is much more widely studied and is mostly used in skincare. AHK-Cu has far less published research and is mostly found in hair and scalp products. Read what GHK-Cu is for more on its better-known relative.
Is AHK-Cu a hair-loss treatment?
No. Our AHK-Cu products are cosmetics, designed to leave hair looking fuller and feeling softer, and your scalp feeling refreshed. They aren't medicines. If you're worried about hair loss, please see a doctor or dermatologist.
Is AHK-Cu safe to use?
Our AHK-Cu products are made for external cosmetic use on hair and scalp. The independent US safety review we cite for GHK-Cu doesn't cover AHK-Cu, so patch test before use, keep products out of your eyes and stop if irritation occurs. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start a new product.
Should I choose the serum or the spray?
Choose by format. The serum (50ml) and the spray (60ml) have the same ingredient list and the same 1% AHK-Cu. The serum goes on as drops, which makes it easy to apply along partings. The spray covers more of the scalp quickly.
Can I use the serum or spray with the hair mask?
Yes. Use the serum or spray on your scalp once or twice a day, and the Hair Mask once or twice a week as a rinse-off conditioning step. The mask contains both GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu.
Does Biolabs sell AHK-Cu capsules or injections?
No. Biolabs Cosmetics sells topical cosmetic products only: serums, creams, a body lotion and hair care, all for external use on skin, hair and scalp.
Further reading
Sources
- Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, Lee SH, Kang YJ, Eun HC, Cho KH, Kim KH (2007). Archives of Pharmacal Research, 30(7):834-839. doi:10.1007/BF02978833. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17703734/
- Fan C, Chen Y, Huang Q, Ou WY, Zhang C, Sun Y, Wu T, Leung OY, Iu HC, Shi J (2026). Biomedicines, 14(4):864. doi:10.3390/biomedicines14040864. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13113319/
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A (2015). BioMed Research International, 2015:648108. doi:10.1155/2015/648108. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4508379/
- Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, et al. (2018). International Journal of Toxicology, 37(3 Suppl):90S-102S. doi:10.1177/1091581818807863. https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/tripep062014final.pdf
- Cosmetics Europe (COSMILE Europe ingredient database) (accessed 2026). COSMILE Europe INCI database (online). https://cosmileeurope.eu/inci/detail/3803/copper-tripeptide-1/
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2026). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 168431292, AHK-Cu ([L-Alanyl-N-L-histidyl-N,N3-L-lysinato(2-)]copper Monohydrochloride). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/168431292