FORMULATION / 01TOPICAL PROTOCOLS · HA BASE
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Topical
serum protocols

Copper-peptide hair serums built in a plain hyaluronic acid base. Choose a variant, pick a strength, and get the exact peptide quantity for your bottle size.

AHK-Cu · GHK-Cu · dual Topical only — do not inject

This page collects the three most common DIY copper-peptide hair serum builds — AHK-Cu alone, GHK-Cu alone, and a synergistic dual combination — all formulated in a 30 mL hyaluronic acid (HA) serum base. The formulation matrix below is the master reference; the calculator does the same math for any bottle size or strength.

Formulation math — peptide required (mg) = target strength (%) × serum volume (mL) × 10, because 1% w/v equals 10 mg/mL. A 30 mL bottle at 1% therefore needs 300 mg of peptide; at 0.33% it needs ≈ 100 mg.

DIY Hair Serum Formulation Matrix

30 mL batch
Serum variant Peptide quantity HA base volume Finished concentration Primary target
AHK-Cu Only 300 mg (or 100 mg starter) 30 mL 1.0% (or 0.33%) Dermal papilla signaling & follicle stimulation
GHK-Cu Only 300 mg (or 100 mg starter) 30 mL 1.0% (or 0.33%) Scalp vascularity, collagen anchoring & anagen extension
Dual Combo 150 mg AHK-Cu + 150 mg GHK-Cu (or 300 mg of each for max strength) 30 mL 0.5% AHK / 0.5% GHK (or 1.0% each) Comprehensive follicular support & microcirculation

Starter strengths are a lower-concentration entry point; the 1% (single) and 0.5%/0.5% (dual) figures are the standard reference builds.

Formulation Calculator

select variant · set bottle size · read peptide in mg
LIVE FORMULATIONvariant / serum volume / strength / peptide required
RP–TOPICAL–01

AHK-Cu required — alanyl-histidyl-lysine copper
GHK-Cu required — glycyl-histidyl-lysine copper
Total peptide — to dissolve into the serum
Finished strength — per peptide · in the full bottle
BAC water — ~0.5–1 mL per 100 mg peptide
Bottle headspace — draw this out before adding

1% w/v = 10 mg/mL. Peptide required (mg) = strength (%) × serum volume (mL) × 10. 1 fl oz ≈ 29.6 mL. Copper peptides degrade with heat and light — refrigerate the finished serum.

Protocol 1 — AHK-Cu Only Hair Serum (1.0% Strength)

Supplies: 300 mg lyophilized AHK-Cu powder (3 × 100 mg or 6 × 50 mg vials), 30 mL pure hyaluronic acid serum, 2.0 mL bacteriostatic (BAC) water, and a sterile syringe.

  1. Headspace: Open the 30 mL HA bottle and draw out 2.0–3.0 mL of gel to discard, preventing overflow.
  2. Dissolution: Inject 0.5–1.0 mL of BAC water into each AHK-Cu vial. Swirl gently until the powder fully dissolves into a bright blue solution (do not shake violently to prevent foaming).
  3. Transfer & emulsify: Draw the blue solution out of the vials and inject it directly into the 30 mL HA bottle. Cap tightly and shake vigorously for 60 seconds to distribute evenly.

Protocol 2 — GHK-Cu Only Hair Serum (1.0% Strength)

Supplies: 300 mg lyophilized GHK-Cu powder (3 × 100 mg vials), 30 mL pure hyaluronic acid serum, 2.0 mL BAC water, and a sterile syringe.

  1. Headspace: Remove 2.0–3.0 mL of HA serum from the 30 mL bottle using a clean syringe.
  2. Dissolution: Inject roughly 0.6 mL of BAC water into each of the three 100 mg GHK-Cu vials. Swirl gently until the cake transforms into a deep royal blue liquid.
  3. Transfer & emulsify: Pull the liquid from all vials and inject it into the HA base. Shake thoroughly for 60 seconds until the serum turns a uniform sky-blue tint.

Protocol 3 — Dual GHK-Cu + AHK-Cu Synergistic Hair Serum (1.0% Total / 0.5% Each)

Supplies: 150 mg AHK-Cu powder + 150 mg GHK-Cu powder, 30 mL pure hyaluronic acid serum, 3.0 mL BAC water, and a sterile syringe.

  1. Headspace: Draw out and discard 3.0 mL of the HA gel from the 30 mL bottle to accommodate the liquid volume.
  2. Dissolution:
    • Inject 1.5 mL of BAC water divided across your AHK-Cu vial(s) and swirl until dissolved.
    • Inject 1.5 mL of BAC water divided across your GHK-Cu vial(s) and swirl until dissolved.
  3. Transfer & emulsify: Draw up both reconstituted solutions and inject them directly into the same 30 mL HA bottle. Cap tightly and shake for 60 seconds to fully blend both copper complexes.

Application & Best Practices

  • Daily routine: Part the hair and apply 0.5–1.0 mL (approx. 1 dropper full or 4–6 fine-mist sprays) directly to target scalp areas once daily on a clean, dry scalp. Massage gently for 60 seconds.
  • Microneedling adjunct: Use a 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm derma stamp 1–2 times weekly prior to application to create temporary micro-channels for deeper follicular delivery.
  • Storage: Store the finished serum in the refrigerator; copper peptide chains degrade quickly when exposed to heat and light.
  • Ingredient incompatibilities: Avoid using simultaneously with strong exfoliating acids (glycolic, salicylic) or pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), as acidic environments break the copper-peptide bond. Ensure the base HA serum is plain and free of low-pH actives.