--- title: "Melanotan II vs AHK-Cu: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)" url: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/melanotan-ii-vs-ahk-cu description: "Compare Melanotan II vs AHK-Cu side by side. We earn a commission on some vendor links. Mechanism, half-life, dose range, side effects and prices." lang: en --- Skip to content Compare notes on r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) Compare notes with other researchers. Join r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) # Melanotan II vs AHK-Cu Side-by-side comparison of Melanotan II and AHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing. Melanotan II from $34.99 AHK-Cu from $44.99 ## Price snapshot ### Melanotan II Current low $34.99 current listings 7-day low — not enough history yet 30-day low — not enough history yet 30-day change — not enough history yet ### AHK-Cu Current low $44.99 current listings 7-day low — not enough history yet 30-day low — not enough history yet 30-day change — not enough history yet ## Melanotan II Melanotan-II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) engineered in the late 1980s by researchers at the University of Arizona, most prominently Mac Hadley and… **Lowest listed price:** $34.99 across 5 listings Full Melanotan II profile (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/melanotan-ii) ## 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 profile (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/ahk-cu) ## Side-by-side comparison | Attribute | Melanotan II | AHK-Cu | | --- | --- | --- | | Category | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics | Skin & Hair | | Research Stage | Preclinical | Preclinical | | Mechanism of Action | Melanotan-II works by binding to and activating all four G-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors expressed in mammalian tissue (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R - MC2R responds only to ACTH), with particularly high affinity at MC1R, MC3R, and MC4R. Melanocortin… | 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… | | Half-Life | Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours. | Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) | | Typical Dose Range | — | — | | Dosing Frequency | — | once_daily | | Administration | — | Topical, Subcutaneous, Intradermal | | Side Effects | The side-effect profile of MT-II is dose-dependent and largely driven by pan-melanocortin receptor activation. Many users experience the acute side effects as more limiting than the tanning benefit. Very Common (50% of users): - Nausea — the single most common… | — | | Molecular Weight | ~1024.2 g/mol (average molecular weight; monoisotopic mass ~1023.5 Da). Molecular formula C50H69N15O9 (PubChem CID 92432). | 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). | | Common Vial Sizes | — | 50, 100 | ## Price History 3 data points - Half Nattys - Ion Peptide - Disguised Alpha ## Price History 2 data points - Ion Peptide - Disguised Alpha ### Melanotan II: potential benefits - Tanning without UV - Appetite suppression - Sexual arousal - Photoprotection - Fat loss ### 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 ## Frequently asked ### What's the difference between Melanotan II and AHK-Cu? Melanotan II is a skin, hair & aesthetics that melanotan-ii works by binding to and activating all four g-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors expressed in mammalian tissue (mc1r, mc3r, mc4r, mc5r - mc2r responds only to…. 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…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours. vs Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized)), and typical dose range. ### Which has the longer half-life, Melanotan II or AHK-Cu? Melanotan II has a half-life of Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours.. AHK-Cu has a half-life of Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics. ### Which is cheaper, Melanotan II or AHK-Cu? Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: Melanotan II from $34.99, AHK-Cu from $44.99. 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 Melanotan II and AHK-Cu? Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Melanotan II and AHK-Cu 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. ## See current vendor prices Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy. Melanotan II prices: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/melanotan-ii?tab=prices AHK-Cu prices: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/ahk-cu?tab=prices Compare all compounds: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare ### Before you buy Melanotan II or AHK-Cu Check the vendor trust score. Every supplier we track is rated 0-100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and listings: one published, reproducible methodology, applied to every vendor. View Vendor Scorecard (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/scorecard) ## Related comparisons Melanotan I vs Melanotan Ii: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/melanotan-i-vs-melanotan-ii GHK CU vs AHK CU: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/ghk-cu-vs-ahk-cu PT-141 vs Melanotan Ii: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/pt-141-vs-melanotan-ii **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. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/editorial-standards) and affiliate disclosure (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/affiliate-disclosure). BodyHackGuide (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/) Your biohacking research hub: compound pricing, brain health protocols, dosing tools, and vendor reviews. support@bodyhackguide.co Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/Mhq5UdRYBA r/BodyHackGuide on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/BodyHackGuide **Affiliate Disclosure:** We rank every vendor on the same public, reproducible methodology (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/methodology). Full details in our affiliate disclosure (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/affiliate-disclosure). **Research Disclaimer:** All compounds listed are for laboratory and research purposes only. Not for human consumption. This site does not sell or ship any products. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional and comply with local regulations. © 2026 BodyHackGuide. 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