AHK-Cu vs Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Side-by-side comparison of AHK-Cu and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
AHK-Cu
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
AHK-Cu
AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a…
Lowest listed price: $44.99 across 5 listings
Full AHK-Cu profileAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (INCI: Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 in older nomenclature, commercially known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide designed as a competitive inhibitor of the SNARE complex at the neuromuscular junction.…
Lowest listed price: $129.00 across 1 listing
Full Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | AHK-Cu | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Skin & Hair | Skin & Hair |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Marketed topical cosmetic ingredient (INCI: Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 / Argireline). Supported by small human anti-wrinkle studies, including one randomized, placebo-controlled trial; no systemic or injectable clinical development. Not an FDA-approved drug. |
| Mechanism of Action | AHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (antioxidant), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The tripeptide… | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) is patterned after the N-terminal domain of SNAP-25 and behaves as a competitive mimic of that protein during SNARE complex assembly. The SNARE complex (SNAP-25 + Syntaxin-1 + VAMP/synaptobrevin) is required for… |
| Half-Life | Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) | Short (topical application, no systemic absorption at cosmetic doses) |
| Typical Dose Range | — | — |
| Dosing Frequency | once_daily | twice_daily |
| Administration | Topical, Subcutaneous, Intradermal | Topical |
| Side Effects | — | — |
| Molecular Weight | Free peptide (AHK): 354.41 Da (C15H26N6O4). Copper complex (AHK-Cu): 415.9 Da (C15H24CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex - Cu(II) displaces two protons from the tripeptide ligand). | 888.99 g/mol (average); molecular formula C34H60N14O12S |
| Common Vial Sizes | 50, 100 | — |
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Price tracking
AHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Hair follicle stimulation — activates anagen phase via Wnt/β-catenin in dermal papilla cells
- Reduction of follicle miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia models
- Enhanced scalp vascularity via VEGF upregulation
- Wound healing acceleration — copper cofactor for lysyl oxidase and collagen maturation
- Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: potential benefits
- Targets dynamic expression wrinkles - forehead, glabellar, and periorbital (crow's feet) lines
- Proposed to reduce facial neuromuscular signaling by destabilizing the ternary SNARE complex (acts as a SNAP-25 N-terminal mimic)
- A randomized, placebo-controlled human study reported ~49% subjective improvement in periorbital wrinkles vs 0% for placebo over 4 weeks (small evidence base) [PMID: 23417317]
- Marketed as a topical 'Botox alternative' - reversible mechanism, not a neurotoxin, with no botulinum-type systemic risk
- Supplied as a raw cosmetic-compounding powder for research/formulation use (verify purity via HPLC COA)
- Commonly combined with related peptides (e.g., Acetyl Octapeptide-3 / Snap-8) in anti-wrinkle formulations
Frequently asked
What's the difference between AHK-Cu and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
AHK-Cu is a skin & hair that ahk-cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase…. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a skin & hair that acetyl hexapeptide-8 (argireline) is patterned after the n-terminal domain of snap-25 and behaves as a competitive mimic of that protein during snare complex assembly. the snare…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) vs Short (topical application, no systemic absorption at cosmetic doses)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, AHK-Cu or Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
AHK-Cu has a half-life of Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized). Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a half-life of Short (topical application, no systemic absorption at cosmetic doses). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, AHK-Cu or Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: AHK-Cu from $44.99, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 from $129.00. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack AHK-Cu and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. AHK-Cu and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
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Before you buy AHK-Cu or Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. We earn an affiliate commission on some outbound clicks, and every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.