diff --git a/frontend/src/components/dashboard/HealthStatusBar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/dashboard/HealthStatusBar.tsx
index 91402ea2..5c7f20a5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/dashboard/HealthStatusBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/dashboard/HealthStatusBar.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { Bell } from 'lucide-react';
+import { MastheadRail } from '@/components/ui/MastheadRail';
 import type { Stats, SystemStats, NotificationItem, HealthLevel } from './types';
 import { deriveHealth } from './deriveHealth';
 import { countVisibleUnread } from '@/lib/notificationVisibility';
@@ -15,24 +16,21 @@ interface HealthStatusBarProps {
   metricsStale?: boolean;
 }
 
-const healthConfig: Record<HealthLevel, { label: string; dotClass: string; textClass: string; railClass: string; tintClass: string }> = {
+const healthConfig: Record<HealthLevel, { label: string; textClass: string; railClass: string; tintClass: string }> = {
   healthy: {
     label: 'Healthy',
-    dotClass: 'bg-success shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--success)_20%,transparent)]',
     textClass: 'text-stat-value',
     railClass: 'bg-brand',
     tintClass: 'from-brand/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
   },
   degraded: {
     label: 'Degraded',
-    dotClass: 'bg-warning shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--warning)_22%,transparent)]',
     textClass: 'text-warning',
     railClass: 'bg-warning',
     tintClass: 'from-warning/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
   },
   critical: {
     label: 'Critical',
-    dotClass: 'bg-destructive shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--destructive)_24%,transparent)]',
     textClass: 'text-destructive',
     railClass: 'bg-destructive',
     tintClass: 'from-destructive/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
@@ -92,14 +90,10 @@ export function HealthStatusBar({
       className={`relative overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-card-border border-t-card-border-top bg-card shadow-card-bevel transition-colors`}
     >
       <div className={`pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r ${config.tintClass}`} />
-      <div className={`absolute inset-y-0 left-0 w-[3px] ${config.railClass}`} />
+      <MastheadRail variant={level === 'healthy' ? 'shimmer' : 'glow'} className={config.railClass} />
       <div className="relative grid grid-cols-[auto_1fr_auto] items-center gap-6 py-5 pl-7 pr-6">
         {/* State column */}
         <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
-          <span
-            aria-hidden="true"
-            className={`h-2.5 w-2.5 rounded-full ${config.dotClass} ${level === 'healthy' ? '' : 'animate-[pulse_2.4s_ease-in-out_infinite]'}`}
-          />
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
             <span className={`font-heading text-3xl leading-none tracking-tight ${config.textClass}`}>
               {config.label}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fleet/FleetMasthead.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fleet/FleetMasthead.tsx
index d3674b2b..c3eb53ec 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fleet/FleetMasthead.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fleet/FleetMasthead.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { Bell } from 'lucide-react';
+import { MastheadRail } from '@/components/ui/MastheadRail';
 type FleetHealth = 'healthy' | 'degraded' | 'critical';
 
 interface FleetMastheadProps {
@@ -37,24 +38,21 @@ function useTicker(intervalMs: number): number {
   return now;
 }
 
-const healthConfig: Record<FleetHealth, { label: string; dotClass: string; textClass: string; railClass: string; tintClass: string }> = {
+const healthConfig: Record<FleetHealth, { label: string; textClass: string; railClass: string; tintClass: string }> = {
   healthy: {
     label: 'The fleet',
-    dotClass: 'bg-success shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--success)_20%,transparent)]',
     textClass: 'text-stat-value',
     railClass: 'bg-brand',
     tintClass: 'from-brand/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
   },
   degraded: {
     label: 'The fleet',
-    dotClass: 'bg-warning shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--warning)_22%,transparent)]',
     textClass: 'text-warning',
     railClass: 'bg-warning',
     tintClass: 'from-warning/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
   },
   critical: {
     label: 'The fleet',
-    dotClass: 'bg-destructive shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--destructive)_24%,transparent)]',
     textClass: 'text-destructive',
     railClass: 'bg-destructive',
     tintClass: 'from-destructive/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
@@ -102,13 +100,9 @@ export function FleetMasthead({
   return (
     <div className="relative overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-card-border border-t-card-border-top bg-card shadow-card-bevel transition-colors mb-4">
       <div className={`pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r ${config.tintClass}`} />
-      <div className={`absolute inset-y-0 left-0 w-[3px] ${config.railClass}`} />
+      <MastheadRail variant={level === 'healthy' ? 'shimmer' : 'glow'} className={config.railClass} />
       <div className="relative grid grid-cols-[auto_1fr_auto] items-center gap-6 py-5 pl-7 pr-6">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
-          <span
-            aria-hidden="true"
-            className={`h-2.5 w-2.5 rounded-full ${config.dotClass} ${level === 'healthy' ? '' : 'animate-[pulse_2.4s_ease-in-out_infinite]'}`}
-          />
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
             <span className={`font-heading text-3xl leading-none tracking-tight ${config.textClass}`}>
               {config.label}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/settings/SettingsSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/settings/SettingsSidebar.tsx
index 42a1b133..1dddae3f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/settings/SettingsSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/settings/SettingsSidebar.tsx
@@ -93,13 +93,6 @@ export function SettingsSidebar({ currentSection, onSectionChange, dirtyFlags, o
                                                     className="absolute inset-y-0 left-0 w-[2px] rounded-sm bg-brand"
                                                 />
                                             )}
-                                            <span
-                                                aria-hidden="true"
-                                                className={cn(
-                                                    'h-1 w-1 shrink-0 rounded-full',
-                                                    isActive ? 'bg-brand' : 'bg-stat-subtitle/40',
-                                                )}
-                                            />
                                             <span className="flex-1 truncate text-left">{item.label}</span>
                                             {isDirty && (
                                                 <span className="h-1.5 w-1.5 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-warning" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/sidebar/StackRow.tsx b/frontend/src/components/sidebar/StackRow.tsx
index 6b53f4c8..b470539a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/sidebar/StackRow.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/sidebar/StackRow.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { GitBranch, Loader2, AlertCircle } from 'lucide-react';
 import type { CheckStatus } from '@/types/imageUpdates';
 import { Cursor, CursorContainer, CursorFollow, CursorProvider } from '@/components/animate-ui/primitives/animate/cursor';
 import { Checkbox } from '@/components/ui/checkbox';
-import { LabelDot } from '@/components/LabelPill';
 import type { Label } from '@/components/label-types';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { sidebarRowActive, sidebarRowBase, sidebarRowCheckboxSlot } from './sidebar-styles';
@@ -47,18 +46,13 @@ function RowTooltip({ trigger, label }: { trigger: ReactNode; label: string }) {
   );
 }
 
-const MAX_VISIBLE_LABELS = 3;
-
 export function StackRow(props: StackRowProps) {
   const {
-    file, displayName, status, running, total, isBusy, isActive, labels,
+    file, displayName, status, running, total, isBusy, isActive,
     hasUpdate, checkStatus, lastError, hasGitPending, onSelect, kebabSlot,
     bulkMode = false, isSelected = false, onToggleSelect,
   } = props;
 
-  const visibleLabels = labels.slice(0, MAX_VISIBLE_LABELS);
-  const overflowCount = Math.max(0, labels.length - MAX_VISIBLE_LABELS);
-
   const handleClick = () => {
     if (bulkMode) onToggleSelect?.(file);
     else onSelect(file);
@@ -110,16 +104,6 @@ export function StackRow(props: StackRowProps) {
       {/* Stack name */}
       <span className="flex-1 truncate font-mono text-sm min-w-0">{displayName}</span>
 
-      {/* Trailing: label dots (max 3 + overflow count) */}
-      {visibleLabels.length > 0 && (
-        <span className="flex items-center gap-0.5 shrink-0">
-          {visibleLabels.map(l => <LabelDot key={l.id} color={l.color} />)}
-          {overflowCount > 0 && (
-            <span className="font-mono text-[10px] leading-3 text-stat-icon">+{overflowCount}</span>
-          )}
-        </span>
-      )}
-
       {/* Fixed trailing icon slot: update dot > check-failed > git pending */}
       <span className="w-3.5 h-3.5 flex items-center justify-center shrink-0">
         {hasUpdate ? (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/sidebar/__tests__/StackRow.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/sidebar/__tests__/StackRow.test.tsx
index cff4deff..7c98c802 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/sidebar/__tests__/StackRow.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/sidebar/__tests__/StackRow.test.tsx
@@ -93,13 +93,13 @@ describe('StackRow', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByText('UP')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it('renders label indicators', () => {
+  it('does not render trailing label color dots when labels are assigned', () => {
     const labels: Label[] = [
       { id: 1, node_id: 0, name: 'prod', color: 'teal' },
       { id: 2, node_id: 0, name: 'media', color: 'blue' },
     ];
     const { container } = render(<StackRow {...base({ labels })} />);
-    expect(container.querySelectorAll('[style*="--label-"]')).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(container.querySelectorAll('[style*="--label-"]')).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
   // ── Image-update check status indicator ────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/MastheadRail.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/MastheadRail.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f66e8622
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/MastheadRail.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+export type MastheadRailVariant = 'shimmer' | 'glow';
+
+interface MastheadRailProps {
+    variant: MastheadRailVariant;
+    className?: string;
+}
+
+export function MastheadRail({ variant, className }: MastheadRailProps) {
+    return (
+        <div
+            aria-hidden
+            className={cn('absolute inset-y-0 left-0 w-[3px] overflow-hidden', className)}
+        >
+            {variant === 'shimmer' ? (
+                <div className="masthead-rail-shimmer absolute inset-x-0 h-1/3 bg-gradient-to-b from-transparent via-white/25 to-transparent" />
+            ) : (
+                <div className="masthead-rail-glow absolute inset-0" />
+            )}
+        </div>
+    );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/PageMasthead.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/PageMasthead.tsx
index 9e6bb687..141772c8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/PageMasthead.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/PageMasthead.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { ReactNode } from 'react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { MastheadRail } from '@/components/ui/MastheadRail';
 
 export type MastheadTone = 'live' | 'idle' | 'warn' | 'error';
 
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ export interface PageMastheadProps {
     kicker?: string;
     state: string;
     tone: MastheadTone;
+    /** When true with tone `live`, the left rail shimmers; otherwise the rail glows subtly. */
     pulsing?: boolean;
     metadata?: MastheadMetadataItem[];
     /** Optional meta line under the state word (e.g. a one-line posture summary). */
@@ -29,27 +31,27 @@ export interface PageMastheadProps {
 }
 
 const toneConfig: Record<MastheadTone, {
-    dotClass: string;
+    railClass: string;
     stateTextClass: string;
     tintClass: string;
 }> = {
     live: {
-        dotClass: 'bg-brand shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--brand)_22%,transparent)]',
+        railClass: 'bg-brand',
         stateTextClass: 'text-stat-value',
         tintClass: 'from-brand/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
     },
     idle: {
-        dotClass: 'bg-stat-subtitle',
+        railClass: 'bg-stat-subtitle',
         stateTextClass: 'text-stat-title',
         tintClass: 'from-transparent via-transparent to-transparent',
     },
     warn: {
-        dotClass: 'bg-warning shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--warning)_22%,transparent)]',
+        railClass: 'bg-warning',
         stateTextClass: 'text-warning',
         tintClass: 'from-warning/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
     },
     error: {
-        dotClass: 'bg-destructive shadow-[0_0_0_3px_color-mix(in_oklch,var(--destructive)_24%,transparent)]',
+        railClass: 'bg-destructive',
         stateTextClass: 'text-destructive',
         tintClass: 'from-destructive/[0.06] via-transparent to-transparent',
     },
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ export function PageMasthead({
     size = 'default',
 }: PageMastheadProps) {
     const config = toneConfig[tone];
-    const shouldPulse = pulsing && (tone === 'live' || tone === 'warn');
+    const railVariant = tone === 'live' && pulsing ? 'shimmer' : 'glow';
 
     return (
         <div
@@ -84,17 +86,9 @@ export function PageMasthead({
             )}
         >
             <div className={cn('pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r', config.tintClass)} />
-            <div className="absolute inset-y-0 left-0 w-[3px] bg-brand" />
+            <MastheadRail variant={railVariant} className={config.railClass} />
             <div className="relative grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] items-center gap-6 py-5 pl-7 pr-6">
                 <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-4">
-                    <span
-                        aria-hidden="true"
-                        className={cn(
-                            'h-2.5 w-2.5 shrink-0 rounded-full',
-                            config.dotClass,
-                            shouldPulse && 'animate-[pulse_2.4s_ease-in-out_infinite]',
-                        )}
-                    />
                     <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-1">
                         {kicker ? (
                             <span className="font-mono text-[10px] leading-3 uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-stat-subtitle">
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index 9d10e322..39a209a1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -716,6 +716,10 @@ body {
   0%   { transform: translateY(-100%); }
   100% { transform: translateY(200%); }
 }
+@keyframes masthead-rail-glow {
+  0%, 100% { opacity: 0.55; box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 transparent; }
+  50%      { opacity: 1; box-shadow: inset 0 0 10px 0 oklch(1 0 0 / 0.12); }
+}
 
 /* ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    ANIMATION UTILITIES
@@ -738,6 +742,12 @@ body {
 .animate-shimmer {
   animation: shimmer 4.5s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
 }
+.masthead-rail-shimmer {
+  animation: shimmer 11s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+}
+.masthead-rail-glow {
+  animation: masthead-rail-glow 5.5s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+}
 
 /* Stagger delay helpers */
 .animate-delay-50  { animation-delay: 50ms; }