diff --git a/src/app/components/editorial-ui.tsx b/src/app/components/editorial-ui.tsx
index 722fb98..364879a 100644
--- a/src/app/components/editorial-ui.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/editorial-ui.tsx
@@ -18,10 +18,20 @@ export function Reveal({
   useEffect(() => {
     const el = ref.current;
     if (!el) return;
-    if (window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches) {
-      el.classList.add("is-in");
-      return;
-    }
+    if (window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches) return;
+
+    // Only animate what starts below the fold. Anything already on screen stays
+    // visible — otherwise the hero fades in after the section beneath it.
+    const rect = el.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const onScreen = rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom > 0;
+    if (onScreen) return;
+
+    // Hide it without a transition, then reveal when it scrolls into view.
+    el.style.transition = "none";
+    el.classList.add("reveal-armed");
+    void el.offsetHeight;
+    el.style.transition = "";
+
     const io = new IntersectionObserver(
       (entries) => {
         for (const e of entries) {
diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index aa71895..c941271 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -230,15 +230,19 @@ html[data-device="phone"] .desktop-toggle {
    Motion — scroll reveals only
    ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 
+/* Visible by default: Reveal only hides elements that start below the fold, so
+   above-the-fold content (the hero) is never hidden while waiting for JS. */
 .reveal {
-  opacity: 0;
-  transform: translate3d(0, 14px, 0);
   transition:
     opacity 0.55s ease-out,
     transform 0.55s ease-out;
   transition-delay: var(--delay, 0ms);
 }
-.reveal.is-in {
+.reveal.reveal-armed {
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: translate3d(0, 14px, 0);
+}
+.reveal.reveal-armed.is-in {
   opacity: 1;
   transform: none;
 }
@@ -262,8 +266,8 @@ html[data-device="phone"] .desktop-toggle {
     scroll-behavior: auto;
   }
   .reveal {
-    opacity: 1;
-    transform: none;
+    opacity: 1 !important;
+    transform: none !important;
     transition: none;
   }
   .animate-blink {