Hair loss is a common complaint I hear from both men and women. It’s hard when you’ve been used to a full head of lush hair, and now that’s starting to fade. Hair is one of those things, even if you know you’ve been dealt a crap hand genetically, you kind of just assume if you have it, you’ll always have. Until you don’t… It’s tempting to go straight to solutions like implants, microneedling, peptides or stem cell treatments, but if you don’t understand why you’re losing hair, you’ll waste your time and money chasing the wrong fix.
Let’s start with what these treatments can’t do, and what you absolutely need to check before assuming you need a to explore another protocol.
Not All Hair Loss Is Fixable with a Peptide or Even Implants
Hair loss is a symptom, not a diagnosis. And the root cause (pun intended) matters more than the fix you throw at it. Here are the most common culprits I see in clinic:
Genetics: If male pattern baldness runs in your family, no amount of collagen powder or “miracle spray” is going to bring back a thick hairline. You can slow the progression, but you’re not growing back the hairline you had at 16. This is where implants (or “plugs”) might be your best option.
Thyroid dysfunction: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism mess with hair cycles. This is one of the first things I check if someone has thinning or shedding and hasn’t had labs in a while.
Cortisol and chronic stress: High cortisol levels from work, lack of sleep, or relentless anxiety can send your hair follicles into a dormant phase. It’s not instant, but over time, you’ll start noticing more hair in your drain or brush.
Iron and nutrient deficiencies: I see this more in women, but low ferritin, B12, or D3 can definitely contribute to hair shedding. If you’re losing hair and haven’t looked at your labs in a while— start there.
Testosterone or DHT imbalance: Ironically, the same hormone that boosts muscle and libido can destroy your hairline if your DHT levels are too high. TRT patients, this especially applies to you. This is why I am meticulous about monitoring free testosterone levels, which is where most of excess DHT comes from.
So if you’re dealing with hair loss and haven’t addressed the above… do that first. Peptides aren’t magic, and they work best when you’ve ruled out the big stuff.
The Peptide That’s Worth Your Attention: GHK-Cu
Now, if everything above checks out and you’re still looking for something to help slow or reverse hair loss, GHK-Cu (copper peptide) is the real deal. I’ve seen solid results in patients using it correctly.
Here’s what makes it effective:
It extends the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle
Reduces inflammation around the follicle, which is often the underlying reason hair thins before it falls out. Yet another reason why chronic inflammation should be your Public Enemy #1
Improves scalp circulation, allowing better delivery of nutrients and oxygen to hair roots.
Can help remodel and repair follicular damage, especially in early stages of hair loss
I typically use GHK-cu as a topical solution, either alone or compounded with other ingredients like minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) or tretinoin. Some use injectable forms or sublingual troches for systemic effects, but I typically go topical for hair-specific results.
How I Use It in My Practice
For most patients, I recommend applying a compounded GHK-Cu spray nightly to the scalp, ideally after dermarolling to improve penetration. If you’re like 99.9% of guys you don’t have a dermaroller (and don’t even know what the heck one looks like), get on Amazon and grab one. No sponsorships or plugs here, just find one with good reviews and order it. The key is consistency. Stimulating hair follicle health is something you need to stay on for at least 90 days to see if it’s working. I see guys for a follow up a month later and they tell me they stopped after a few weeks because they didn’t notice a difference. Don’t be that guy! Results start to show in months, not weeks.
As mentioned, I sometimes combine GHK-Cu with low-dose oral minoxidil or finasteride (when appropriate and isn’t counterproductive to your hormone levels), but that depends on the patient’s goals, labs, and risk tolerance.
Pro tip: Don’t overlook scalp inflammation. You knew I was going to mention the inflammation part again…
If your scalp is flaky, itchy, or red, you’re likely dealing with a skin issue on top of your hair loss. I’ve had patients improve hair density just by addressing scalp health first, sometimes using ketoconazole shampoo or even a short steroid course when needed. If you’re a current patient in my TRT program and struggling with body acne, I’ve probably already recommended a topical ketoconazole 2% shampoo. Just use this for your hair too!
Other Peptides I Sometimes Consider for Hair
Thymosin Beta-4 (TB-500): Better known for healing injuries, but it also plays a role in tissue repair and regeneration. Occasionally helpful for diffuse thinning.
PTD-DBM (combined with GHK-Cu): This combo has been shown to help stimulate hair regrowth in some early studies, especially when applied to the scalp. I use this less frequently because it’s hard to get from a pharmacy and I’m not convinced it’s potent enough to produce tangible hair results and make my “recommended” list.
But again, all these work best when your system is ready to receive the signal. If your thyroid, testosterone, or cortisol is off, they’ll underperform every time.
The Bottom Line
Hair loss is a frustrating, emotional topic for a lot of people. But instead of grabbing whatever’s trending on TikTok or Reddit, you need to zoom out and look at your full health picture.
Start with the basics: labs, hormones, inflammation, nutrition. If that’s all good and you still want to explore hair regrowth options, GHK-Cu is the one I trust and prescribe most often. It’s safe, it works for the right candidates, and it actually supports hair biology, not just vanity.
If you’re tired of thinning hair and want a real strategy, not just another bottle of false promises, hit me up. We’ll look at the full picture and come up with a plan that actually works.
-Clay
