diff --git a/src/components/HeroStrands.astro b/src/components/HeroStrands.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fc7b99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/HeroStrands.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+---
+/*
+ * A slow, luminous ribbon field behind the hero.
+ *
+ * Inspired by React Bits' "Strands", but written from scratch on a 2D canvas
+ * rather than pulling in ogl and a WebGL shader. That library is ~25kB gzipped;
+ * this is a couple of hundred bytes, on a page whose entire JS budget is about
+ * 2kB. The look is the point, not the implementation.
+ *
+ * Deliberately restrained: brand blues only, low alpha, and slow enough that it
+ * reads as ambient rather than as something demanding attention.
+ */
+---
+
+<canvas
+  data-hero-strands
+  aria-hidden="true"
+  class="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 size-full opacity-70 dark:opacity-100"
+></canvas>
+
+<script>
+  const reduceMotion = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)');
+
+  // One per hero; a page may have more than one instance.
+  for (const canvas of document.querySelectorAll<HTMLCanvasElement>('[data-hero-strands]')) {
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
+
+    if (ctx) {
+      // Brand ramp, lightest to deepest. Kept in sync with --color-brand-* by eye;
+      // exact values matter less than staying in the blue family.
+      const RIBBONS = [
+        { colour: '147, 197, 253', phase: 0.0, amp: 0.10, freq: 1.1, width: 90, y: 0.46 },
+        { colour: '78, 163, 252', phase: 2.1, amp: 0.13, freq: 0.8, width: 70, y: 0.52 },
+        { colour: '20, 126, 251', phase: 4.2, amp: 0.08, freq: 1.4, width: 55, y: 0.58 },
+      ];
+
+      let width = 0;
+      let height = 0;
+      let frame = 0;
+      let running = false;
+
+      const resize = () => {
+        const dpr = Math.min(window.devicePixelRatio || 1, 2);
+        const rect = canvas.getBoundingClientRect();
+        width = rect.width;
+        height = rect.height;
+        canvas.width = Math.round(width * dpr);
+        canvas.height = Math.round(height * dpr);
+        ctx.setTransform(dpr, 0, 0, dpr, 0, 0);
+      };
+
+      const draw = (t: number) => {
+        ctx.clearRect(0, 0, width, height);
+        // Additive blending is what gives the strands their glow where they cross.
+        ctx.globalCompositeOperation = 'lighter';
+
+        for (const ribbon of RIBBONS) {
+          const gradient = ctx.createLinearGradient(0, 0, width, 0);
+          gradient.addColorStop(0, `rgba(${ribbon.colour}, 0)`);
+          gradient.addColorStop(0.5, `rgba(${ribbon.colour}, 0.22)`);
+          gradient.addColorStop(1, `rgba(${ribbon.colour}, 0)`);
+
+          ctx.strokeStyle = gradient;
+          ctx.lineWidth = ribbon.width;
+          ctx.lineCap = 'round';
+          ctx.filter = 'blur(28px)';
+
+          ctx.beginPath();
+          for (let x = 0; x <= width; x += 12) {
+            const p = x / width;
+            const y =
+              height * ribbon.y +
+              Math.sin(p * Math.PI * 2 * ribbon.freq + t + ribbon.phase) * height * ribbon.amp +
+              Math.sin(p * Math.PI * 4 + t * 0.6 + ribbon.phase) * height * ribbon.amp * 0.3;
+            if (x === 0) ctx.moveTo(x, y);
+            else ctx.lineTo(x, y);
+          }
+          ctx.stroke();
+        }
+
+        ctx.filter = 'none';
+        ctx.globalCompositeOperation = 'source-over';
+      };
+
+      const loop = () => {
+        if (!running) return;
+        frame += 1;
+        draw(frame * 0.004);
+        requestAnimationFrame(loop);
+      };
+
+      const start = () => {
+        if (running || reduceMotion.matches) return;
+        running = true;
+        requestAnimationFrame(loop);
+      };
+      const stop = () => {
+        running = false;
+      };
+
+      resize();
+      draw(0); // a still frame, so it is never blank
+
+      // Only animate while it is actually on screen and the tab is focused.
+      new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
+        for (const entry of entries) (entry.isIntersecting ? start : stop)();
+      }).observe(canvas);
+
+      document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', () =>
+        document.hidden ? stop() : start()
+      );
+
+      window.addEventListener('resize', () => {
+        resize();
+        draw(frame * 0.004);
+      });
+
+      // Honour a change of preference without a reload.
+      reduceMotion.addEventListener('change', () => {
+        if (reduceMotion.matches) {
+          stop();
+          draw(0);
+        } else {
+          start();
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+</script>
diff --git a/src/components/PageHeader.astro b/src/components/PageHeader.astro
index 1893f96..4846e2b 100644
--- a/src/components/PageHeader.astro
+++ b/src/components/PageHeader.astro
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 ---
+import HeroStrands from './HeroStrands.astro';
+
 interface Props {
   title: string;
   lead?: string;
@@ -6,8 +8,10 @@ interface Props {
 const { title, lead } = Astro.props;
 ---
 
-<div class="border-b border-line bg-raised">
-  <div class="mx-auto max-w-5xl px-5 py-12 sm:py-16">
+<div class="relative overflow-hidden border-b border-line bg-raised">
+  <HeroStrands />
+  {/* Above the canvas, which is absolutely positioned across this container. */}
+  <div class="relative z-10 mx-auto max-w-5xl px-5 py-12 sm:py-16">
     <h1 class="text-4xl font-extrabold tracking-tight text-strong sm:text-5xl">{title}</h1>
     {lead && <p class="mt-4 max-w-2xl text-lg text-muted">{lead}</p>}
     <slot />
diff --git a/src/components/ShimmerBorder.astro b/src/components/ShimmerBorder.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8a4005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ShimmerBorder.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+---
+/*
+ * A shimmer that travels around the edge of its parent.
+ *
+ * A conic gradient is rotated behind the card and masked down to just the
+ * border ring, so a single highlight runs continuously around the whole
+ * perimeter -- corners included.
+ *
+ * This is not React Bits' "Star Border", which slides two radial gradients
+ * along the top and bottom edges. That reads as two streaks passing by rather
+ * than one shimmer going around, which is the wrong feel for a card.
+ *
+ * Drop it inside a `position: relative` element. Decorative, so aria-hidden and
+ * no pointer events. It masks itself rather than clipping the parent, so
+ * anything overhanging the card -- a badge, say -- is unaffected.
+ */
+interface Props {
+  /** One full lap. */
+  speed?: string;
+  /** Ring thickness. */
+  thickness?: string;
+}
+const { speed = '5s', thickness = '1.5px' } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<span
+  class="shimmer-border"
+  aria-hidden="true"
+  style={`--shimmer-speed:${speed}; --shimmer-thickness:${thickness}`}
+></span>
+
+<style>
+  /* Registered so the angle can be animated; a bare custom property cannot be
+     interpolated. Without @property the ring simply sits still, which is a
+     fine degradation. */
+  @property --shimmer-angle {
+    syntax: '<angle>';
+    initial-value: 0deg;
+    inherits: false;
+  }
+
+  .shimmer-border {
+    position: absolute;
+    inset: 0;
+    border-radius: inherit;
+    padding: var(--shimmer-thickness);
+    pointer-events: none;
+
+    background: conic-gradient(
+      from var(--shimmer-angle),
+      transparent 0deg,
+      transparent 300deg,
+      color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-accent) 85%, white) 340deg,
+      transparent 360deg
+    );
+
+    /* Keep only the ring: paint the padding box, punch out the content box. */
+    -webkit-mask:
+      linear-gradient(#000 0 0) content-box,
+      linear-gradient(#000 0 0);
+    -webkit-mask-composite: xor;
+    mask:
+      linear-gradient(#000 0 0) content-box,
+      linear-gradient(#000 0 0);
+    mask-composite: exclude;
+
+    animation: shimmer-spin var(--shimmer-speed) linear infinite;
+  }
+
+  @keyframes shimmer-spin {
+    to {
+      --shimmer-angle: 360deg;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /* Hold it still rather than letting the global reduced-motion rule squash the
+     duration to nothing and strobe it. */
+  @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+    .shimmer-border {
+      animation: none;
+      opacity: 0.5;
+    }
+  }
+</style>
diff --git a/src/pages/404.astro b/src/pages/404.astro
index bfb72a5..1ece16e 100644
--- a/src/pages/404.astro
+++ b/src/pages/404.astro
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
 import BaseLayout from '@layouts/BaseLayout.astro';
+import HeroStrands from '@components/HeroStrands.astro';
 import { LINKS } from '@data/site';
 
 // NOTE: this is the org site's 404, so GitHub Pages serves it for any
@@ -13,7 +14,9 @@ import { LINKS } from '@data/site';
   path="/404"
   noindex
 >
-  <div class="mx-auto flex max-w-2xl flex-col items-center px-5 py-24 text-center">
+  <div class="relative overflow-hidden">
+    <HeroStrands />
+    <div class="relative z-10 mx-auto flex max-w-2xl flex-col items-center px-5 py-24 text-center">
     <p class="text-7xl font-extrabold tracking-tight text-accent">404</p>
     <h1 class="mt-4 text-3xl font-extrabold tracking-tight text-strong sm:text-4xl">
       We couldn't find that page.
@@ -51,4 +54,5 @@ import { LINKS } from '@data/site';
       >.
     </p>
   </div>
+  </div>
 </BaseLayout>
diff --git a/src/pages/index.astro b/src/pages/index.astro
index 824a55c..e79fa41 100644
--- a/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { Image } from 'astro:assets';
 import BaseLayout from '@layouts/BaseLayout.astro';
 import StoreButton from '@components/StoreButton.astro';
+import HeroStrands from '@components/HeroStrands.astro';
 import { SITE, LINKS } from '@data/site';
 import { STORES } from '@data/stores';
 import devices from '@assets/devices.png';
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ import devices from '@assets/devices.png';
   path="/"
 >
   <section class="relative overflow-hidden">
+    <HeroStrands />
+
     {/* Ambient brand wash -- the modern descendant of the old #bg-circle. */}
     <div
       aria-hidden="true"
diff --git a/src/pages/install/privateAPI/index.astro b/src/pages/install/privateAPI/index.astro
index aeddd89..9ee5e94 100644
--- a/src/pages/install/privateAPI/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/install/privateAPI/index.astro
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 // than port content that is wrong, this keeps the URL alive and points at the
 // maintained docs. It is noindex so it stops competing with them in search.
 import BaseLayout from '@layouts/BaseLayout.astro';
+import HeroStrands from '@components/HeroStrands.astro';
 import { LINKS } from '@data/site';
 
 const docsUrl = `${LINKS.docs}/private-api/installation`;
@@ -19,7 +20,9 @@ const docsUrl = `${LINKS.docs}/private-api/installation`;
   path="/install/privateAPI"
   noindex
 >
-  <div class="mx-auto max-w-2xl px-5 py-24 text-center">
+  <div class="relative overflow-hidden">
+    <HeroStrands />
+    <div class="relative z-10 mx-auto max-w-2xl px-5 py-24 text-center">
     <h1 class="text-3xl font-extrabold tracking-tight text-strong sm:text-4xl">
       Private API Installation
     </h1>
@@ -45,4 +48,5 @@ const docsUrl = `${LINKS.docs}/private-api/installation`;
       >
     </div>
   </div>
+  </div>
 </BaseLayout>
diff --git a/src/pages/pricing/index.astro b/src/pages/pricing/index.astro
index c9a97f2..7a5bebf 100644
--- a/src/pages/pricing/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/pricing/index.astro
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import BaseLayout from '@layouts/BaseLayout.astro';
 import PageHeader from '@components/PageHeader.astro';
 import MacOSPicker from '@components/MacOSPicker.astro';
+import ShimmerBorder from '@components/ShimmerBorder.astro';
 import { PLANS, PRO_FEATURES, FREE_FEATURES, MACOS_RELEASES } from '@data/pricing';
 import { LINKS } from '@data/site';
 
@@ -47,8 +48,9 @@ const newestMacOS = MACOS_RELEASES.reduce((a, b) => (b.version > a.version ? b :
               plan.featured ? 'border-accent shadow-lg' : 'border-line',
             ]}
           >
+            {plan.featured && <ShimmerBorder />}
             {plan.featured && (
-              <span class="absolute -top-3 left-6 rounded-full bg-accent-solid px-3 py-1 text-xs font-semibold text-white">
+              <span class="absolute -top-3 left-6 z-10 rounded-full bg-accent-solid px-3 py-1 text-xs font-semibold text-white">
                 Best value
               </span>
             )}