diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/screens/compose/compose_screen.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/screens/compose/compose_screen.dart
index e45cf12..e688d32 100644
--- a/sojorn_app/lib/screens/compose/compose_screen.dart
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/screens/compose/compose_screen.dart
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ class _ComposeScreenState extends ConsumerState<ComposeScreen> {
   bool _isLoading = false;
   bool _isUploadingImage = false;
   String? _errorMessage;
+  String? _blockedMessage;
   final int _maxCharacters = 500;
   bool _allowChain = true;
   bool _isBold = false;
@@ -69,6 +70,10 @@ class _ComposeScreenState extends ConsumerState<ComposeScreen> {
     _bodyController.addListener(() {
       _charCountNotifier.value = _bodyController.text.length;
       _handleHashtagSuggestions();
+      // Clear blocked banner when user edits their text
+      if (_blockedMessage != null) {
+        setState(() => _blockedMessage = null);
+      }
     });
     WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
       if (!mounted) return;
@@ -326,7 +331,7 @@ class _ComposeScreenState extends ConsumerState<ComposeScreen> {
     // Layer 0: Client-side hard blocklist — never even send to server
     final blockMessage = ContentFilter.instance.check(_bodyController.text.trim());
     if (blockMessage != null) {
-      await _showBlockedDialog(blockMessage);
+      setState(() => _blockedMessage = blockMessage);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -411,7 +416,7 @@ class _ComposeScreenState extends ConsumerState<ComposeScreen> {
       final msg = e.toString().replaceAll('Exception: ', '');
       // Server-side blocklist catch (422 with blocked content message)
       if (msg.contains("isn't allowed on Sojorn") || msg.contains('not allowed')) {
-        if (mounted) await _showBlockedDialog(msg);
+        if (mounted) setState(() => _blockedMessage = msg);
       } else {
         setState(() {
           _errorMessage = msg;
@@ -454,35 +459,60 @@ class _ComposeScreenState extends ConsumerState<ComposeScreen> {
     return result ?? false;
   }
 
-  Future<void> _showBlockedDialog(String message) async {
-    await showDialog<void>(
-      context: context,
-      barrierDismissible: false,
-      builder: (context) => AlertDialog(
-        shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(16)),
-        title: Row(
-          children: [
-            Icon(Icons.block, color: AppTheme.error, size: 24),
-            const SizedBox(width: 8),
-            const Text('Not Allowed'),
-          ],
-        ),
-        content: Text(
-          message,
-          style: AppTheme.textTheme.bodyMedium,
-        ),
-        actions: [
-          ElevatedButton(
-            onPressed: () => Navigator.pop(context),
-            style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(
-              backgroundColor: AppTheme.brightNavy,
-              foregroundColor: AppTheme.white,
-              shape: const StadiumBorder(),
-            ),
-            child: const Text('Edit My Post'),
-          ),
-        ],
-      ),
+  Widget _buildBlockedBanner() {
+    return AnimatedSize(
+      duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 250),
+      curve: Curves.easeOut,
+      child: _blockedMessage != null
+          ? Container(
+              width: double.infinity,
+              padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(
+                horizontal: AppTheme.spacingMd,
+                vertical: 12,
+              ),
+              decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                color: const Color(0xFFFEF2F2),
+                border: Border(
+                  bottom: BorderSide(
+                    color: AppTheme.error.withValues(alpha: 0.2),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ),
+              child: Row(
+                crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+                children: [
+                  Icon(Icons.info_outline, color: AppTheme.error, size: 20),
+                  const SizedBox(width: 10),
+                  Expanded(
+                    child: Column(
+                      crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+                      children: [
+                        Text(
+                          _blockedMessage!,
+                          style: AppTheme.textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(
+                            color: const Color(0xFF991B1B),
+                            fontWeight: FontWeight.w500,
+                            height: 1.4,
+                          ),
+                        ),
+                      ],
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                  GestureDetector(
+                    onTap: () => setState(() => _blockedMessage = null),
+                    child: Padding(
+                      padding: const EdgeInsets.only(left: 8),
+                      child: Icon(
+                        Icons.close,
+                        size: 16,
+                        color: AppTheme.error.withValues(alpha: 0.6),
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ],
+              ),
+            )
+          : const SizedBox.shrink(),
     );
   }
 
@@ -515,6 +545,7 @@ class _ComposeScreenState extends ConsumerState<ComposeScreen> {
       body: SafeArea(
         child: Column(
           children: [
+            _buildBlockedBanner(),
             if (_errorMessage != null)
               Container(
                 width: double.infinity,