diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 3486c20..e11ddd9 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -112,13 +112,14 @@ section { padding-block: clamp(3.4rem, 7vw, 6rem); scroll-margin-top: 86px; }
   font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: .12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--muted); }
 .hero-creds span { position: relative; }
 .hero-creds span + span::before { content: "·"; position: absolute; left: -.75rem; color: var(--accent); }
-/* ambient hero loop (thin-line wave flow) — paper-blended on the left so text stays clean */
+/* ambient hero loop (thin-line wave flow) — full-bleed, balanced; the wave band sits
+   in the lower half so the headline stays clean. Gentle top/bottom paper fade only. */
 .hero-media { position: absolute; inset: 0; z-index: 1; pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; background: var(--paper); }
 .hero-media::after { content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 0;
-  background: linear-gradient(100deg, var(--paper) 24%, rgba(246,245,242,.55) 46%, rgba(246,245,242,0) 72%); }
+  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(246,245,242,.35) 0%, rgba(246,245,242,0) 22%, rgba(246,245,242,0) 78%, var(--paper) 100%); }
 .hero-video { position: absolute; inset: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; display: block;
   opacity: 0; transition: opacity 1.1s ease; }
-.hero-video.is-playing { opacity: .5; }
+.hero-video.is-playing { opacity: .48; }
 
 /* ---- symptom list ---- */
 .checklist { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 1.8rem 0 0; display: grid; gap: .85rem; }