diff --git a/components/chat.tsx b/components/chat.tsx
index 444ce6e..401d2c6 100644
--- a/components/chat.tsx
+++ b/components/chat.tsx
@@ -485,11 +485,13 @@ export function Chat({
 					<SidebarToggle />
 					<div className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate font-title text-2xl tracking-tight">{title}</div>
 					<PhaseChip phase={phases.at(-1) ?? "probe"} />
-					{/* Soft top fade (owner): the scroller edge under the header eases
-					    in exactly like the dock gradient at the bottom. */}
+					{/* Soft top fade (owner, round 1 of the fade rework): a long wash
+					    that holds softly under the title then melts away — no full
+					    opacity anywhere, so it supports the header instead of reading
+					    as a bar. */}
 					<div
 						aria-hidden
-						className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 top-full z-10 h-5 bg-gradient-to-b from-background to-transparent"
+						className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 top-full z-10 h-24 bg-gradient-to-b from-background/65 via-background/25 to-transparent"
 					/>
 				</header>