diff --git a/app/(app)/create/hooks/usePreviewSurfaceColor.ts b/app/(app)/create/hooks/usePreviewSurfaceColor.ts
index ef39c1c..4d32ebc 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/hooks/usePreviewSurfaceColor.ts
+++ b/app/(app)/create/hooks/usePreviewSurfaceColor.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,21 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
-import { dominantColorFromImageUrl } from "../../../../lib/create/previewSurfaceColor";
+import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useState } from "react";
+import {
+  dominantColorFromImageUrl,
+  isPreviewSurfaceColor,
+} from "../../../../lib/create/previewSurfaceColor";
 import { resolvePreviewSurfaceFallback } from "../utils/resolvePreviewSurfaceFallback";
 
 /**
  * Fill for the review preview card. An uploaded logo contributes its most
  * common color; no image uses a random light color stored on the draft so
- * reload keeps the same fill. Unset until mount so the server and client
- * share the fallback class.
+ * reload keeps the same fill.
  *
  * @param imageUrl Uploaded logo URL, or `null` when the user skipped the photo.
  * @param storedFallback Draft `previewSurfaceColor`, if already picked.
  * @param persistFallback Writes the fallback onto React state once.
- * @returns A CSS color, or `undefined` before the client picks one.
+ * @returns A CSS color, or `undefined` before the client resolves one.
  *
  * @example
  * const color = usePreviewSurfaceColor(avatarUrl, state.previewSurfaceColor, persist);
@@ -23,16 +25,22 @@ export function usePreviewSurfaceColor(
   storedFallback: string | undefined,
   persistFallback: (_color: string) => void,
 ): string | undefined {
-  const [color, setColor] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
+  const [color, setColor] = useState<string | undefined>(() =>
+    storedFallback && isPreviewSurfaceColor(storedFallback)
+      ? storedFallback
+      : undefined,
+  );
+
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (imageUrl) return;
+    const next = resolvePreviewSurfaceFallback(storedFallback);
+    persistFallback(next);
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/set-state-in-effect -- apply before paint so reload does not flash the teal token
+    setColor((prev) => (prev === next ? prev : next));
+  }, [imageUrl, persistFallback, storedFallback]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!imageUrl) {
-      const next = resolvePreviewSurfaceFallback(storedFallback);
-      persistFallback(next);
-      // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/set-state-in-effect -- random fill is client-only; first paint stays on the fallback class
-      setColor(next);
-      return;
-    }
+    if (!imageUrl) return;
 
     let cancelled = false;
     void dominantColorFromImageUrl(imageUrl).then((extracted) => {
diff --git a/app/(app)/create/screens/review/FinalReviewScreen.tsx b/app/(app)/create/screens/review/FinalReviewScreen.tsx
index ae5c337..cee9ab7 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/screens/review/FinalReviewScreen.tsx
+++ b/app/(app)/create/screens/review/FinalReviewScreen.tsx
@@ -311,12 +311,12 @@ export function FinalReviewScreen({
         size={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
         expanded={true}
         descriptionAtBottom
-        backgroundColor="bg-[var(--color-surface-invert-brand-teal)]"
+        backgroundColor="bg-transparent"
         surfaceColor={surfaceColor}
         logoUrl={avatarUrl ?? getAssetPath(vectorMarkPath("mutual-aid"))}
         logoAlt={ruleCardTitle}
         categories={finalReviewCategories}
-        className={CREATE_FLOW_REVIEW_RULE_LAYOUT_CLASS}
+        className={`${CREATE_FLOW_REVIEW_RULE_LAYOUT_CLASS}${surfaceColor ? "" : " invisible"}`}
         onClick={() => {}}
       />
       <FinalReviewChipEditModal