Copper Tripeptide-1 for Treating Hair Loss: Does it Work?

When you think of copper, you probably think about pennies, the wires in your house, or the Statue of Liberty. You probably don't think about its effect on the health and growth of your hair. Multiple scientific studies have shown that copper tripeptide-1 can be effective in stimulating blood flow to the scalp and reducing hair loss. That's why our team at Divi is proud to use it in one of our hair care products, Divi’s Scalp Serum.

Divi's proprietary formula has been carefully designed to promote a healthy scalp and hair, with each ingredient in our Scalp Serum offering unique benefits. In addition to helping thicken your hair and speed up its growth, copper tripeptide-1 can help renew the skin cells on your scalp. In this post, our team will discuss how it works and explain the copper tripeptide-1 benefits for treating hair loss.

What Is Copper Tripeptide-1?

Peptides are amino acids that attach together using peptide bonds. They are key players in many chemical reactions that take place inside your body every day. Copper tripeptide-1 (also called GHK-Cu or glycyl-histidyl-lysine peptide) links three of these amino acids together with copper enzymes.

Your body naturally creates copper tripeptide-1 and uses it to stimulate human hair growth and heal many other issues (including damage to connective tissue, the liver and the lining of the stomach). As you get older, however, your body produces less of this critical group of amino acids. Young, healthy people tend to have the highest copper tripeptide-1 levels, with the average 20 year old having 200 ng/mL of the compound in their blood. By age 60, that level goes down to just 80 ng/mL. This depletion with age is one of the reasons wound healing generally slows down as you get older.

What Benefits Does Copper Tripeptide-1 Have for Your Hair?

Scientists first discovered the properties of copper tripeptide-1 during World War II, when they used it to help accelerate the healing of burn victims. When you apply it to your scalp, not only has it been shown to potentially increase hair follicle size, but it can also stimulate the flow of blood to your hair follicles. These factors can enhance your hair's thickness and growth rate.

Many people think of copper tripeptide-1 as a "facelift in a bottle" because it can help maintain and rebuild the collagen and elastin of your skin. Dr. Loren R. Pickart, a pioneer in the study of the human aging process, first discovered these properties in the 1970s, and he put them to use almost immediately.

As an ingredient in Divi's Scalp Serum, copper tripeptide-1 has a whole host of potential benefits that have been shown to help hair growth. These benefits include:

Accelerating the rate of hair growth
Improving blood flow to hair follicles
Reducing hair loss
Preventing hair thinning
Regenerating damage to your scalp

How Copper Tripeptide-1 Enhances Your Hair Growth

There are a lot of potential causes of hair loss. One of the most common is called androgenetic alopecia (also called AGA, or male- or female-pattern hair loss). This genetically linked hair loss condition occurs when a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) builds up inside your body. It can happen at any age, and while it is most common in men, many women also experience it. In recent years, the number of people suffering from androgenetic alopecia has greatly increased.

Copper tripeptide-1 could be an effective treatment for this form of hair loss because of its potential for blocking DHT in the scalp. While you may think of prescription drugs, hair transplants and laser therapy as the primary treatments for androgenetic alopecia, recent studies indicate that adding copper tripeptide to your treatment plan can enhance the quality of your results and your chances of success.

Additionally, applying copper tripeptide-1 to the scalp can stimulate your body's production of elastin and collagen, promoting the regrowth of hair that has already thinned out. These proteins are critical to any form of growth in the body, especially with something — like hair — made of collagen. A study at Yale University established that adding more collagen to the fatty layer below the scalp helps to improve the rate of hair growth.

Increased blood flow that can be prompted by copper tripeptide-1 and other Scalp Serum ingredients also improves the flow of nutrients and oxygen to human hair follicles and the dermal papilla. This can lengthen the anagen phase of hair growth, which normally lasts between three and five years. The anagen phase of the hair growth cycle is when the hair follicle actively adds length to the hair. At any given time, about 90% of the hairs on your head are in this stage. The longer it goes on, the longer your hair can be!

Copper tripeptide-1 may even help prevent your hair from turning gray as you age. The copper has been shown to bind with melanin, the pigment that gives your hair, skin and eyes their color. Although this is a recent discovery, it shows promise for helping maintain your natural hair color.

Copper tripeptide-1 has also been shown to increase hair follicle size, which gives your hair greater volume and enhances its thickness. In a study of GHK-Cu conducted in 2016, almost all patients reported improved satisfaction with their hair's appearance.

How To Apply Copper Tripeptide-1 to Your Scalp Using Divi's Scalp Serum

Since the molecules of amino acids are so small, the skin of your scalp absorbs them quickly. To maximize the effect of using Divi's Scalp Serum, you should gently and evenly massage ¾ of a dropper of the product into the skin of your scalp, focusing on any areas where your hair is thinning.

Your skin and hair follicles will benefit most from Divi's Scalp Serum if you apply it once daily. Applying the serum is quick and easy, and you should begin to see improvements to your hair and scalp within three months.

What Are the Side Effects of Topical Copper Tripeptide-1 Treatment?

Copper tripeptide-1 is a low-risk ingredient, as very few people have adverse reactions. When you apply it to the scalp as part of a scientifically formulated product like Divi's Scalp Serum, it can help nourish your scalp and encourage healthy hair growth.

Divi’s Hair Serum has been dermatologically tested and the copper tripeptide-1 component of our proprietary formula is safe for topical application. IIn other words, if you suffer from an underlying health condition, using Divi's hair products as recommended has minimal risk of causing complications.

However, some people do occasionally develop an allergy to copper tripeptide-1. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Divi's Scalp Serum or any other hair or skin care product, stop using it and talk to a medical professional. We always recommend patch-testing any new product.

Other Divi's Scalp Serum Ingredients and How They Promote Hair Health

While copper tripeptide-1 is a simple, safe ingredient that is highly effective at growing hair, it should not be the only ingredient you use. The most effective ways to promote the health of your hair function on more than one level. Combining GHK-Cu with a suite of other ingredients may help:

Improve the smoothness and shine of your hair
Produce faster, more dramatic hair regrowth
Relieve itchy and sensitive skin on the scalp
Reduce scalp inflammation
Increase your hair's elasticity and prevent breakage

Divi's Scalp Serum mixes copper tripeptide-1 with many other clean ingredients to help support the health of your hair and scalp. Divi's products are made with high-performing ingredients that are 100% vegan and clean. So you can feel good about using Divi's products, knowing they're effective and dermatologically tested. Below, we discuss a few of our other active ingredients that can help with hair regrowth by improving scalp health.

Green Tea Leaf Extract

Green tea leaf extract has been shown to reduce the effect of DHT on hair growth. In addition, green tea extract contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a type of powerful antioxidant called catechin.

Peppermint Oil

When you first apply Divi's Scalp Serum, you may notice it makes your scalp tingle with a cooling effect. This is largely due to our use of peppermint oil. That intense cooling sensation isn't just a pleasant side effect, though. In many studies, researchers have found that peppermint oil helps to promote new hair growth and to increase the depth of new hair follicles.

Peppermint oil is useful for soothing an itchy, irritated scalp. As part of a larger compound like our Scalp Serum, peppermint is an ideal ingredient for anyone who deals with eczema, dandruff, or psoriasis.

Rosemary Leaf Extract

The extremely versatile and aromatic herb rosemary has many uses outside your kitchen. In particular, it can aid in the regeneration of cells and promote quick healing. One study in 2015 even discovered that rosemary oil could be as effective at treating androgenetic alopecia as the drug Minoxidil.

In addition to the herb's efficacy, treating your scalp with a formula containing rosemary has fewer side effects than taking Minoxidil. And as part of Divi's hair products, it can help to soothe your scalp and nourish your hair. .

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, an extract of the leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. A 2013 study showed that tea tree oil greatly enhanced the effectiveness of Minoxidil therapy in people suffering from androgenetic alopecia. As an active ingredient in Divi's Scalp Serum, Shampoo and Conditioner, tea tree oil provides a soothing component that can help your hair's growth.

Menthol

Menthol is a monoterpenoid organic compound with powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It has been reported that menthol can act as a vasodilator, temporarily widening the blood vessels near the area where applied.

It can also help unclog the pores of your skin and scalp, which could reduce hair loss. Many skin care experts recommend menthol therapy for people who suffer from psoriasis or flakiness.

Eucalyptus Oil

One of the factors behind our Scalp Serum's distinctive, refreshing scent is the oil of the eucalyptus tree. Eucalyptus oil's antifungal and antimicrobial properties allow it to soothe the skin and reduce itchiness.

Caffeine

This bitter-tasting alkaloid is a staple of modern society, but its utility goes far beyond your cup of stimulating coffee or tea. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, caffeine applied topically could help expand your hair follicles and reduce the impact of androgenetic alopecia.

Maintain the Health and Volume of Your Hair with Divi's Scalp Serum

Whether you're fighting hair loss or simply want to improve the health of your scalp, you'll experience the best results if you use a multifaceted approach. Our Scalp Serum's proprietary blend of clean, clinically proven ingredients promotes hair growth and scalp health in many ways.

In Divi's easy-to-apply Scalp Serum, copper tripeptide-1 works synergistically with many other effective active ingredients to combat symptoms of hair loss. Give it a try today.