diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
index c27915c383..fbb12a86d3 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
@@ -894,10 +894,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
             // child items (difficulties) are still visible.
             item.Header.X = offsetX(dist, visibleHalfHeight) - (parent?.X ?? 0);
 
-            // We are applying a multiplicative alpha (which is internally done by nesting an
-            // additional container and setting that container's alpha) such that we can
-            // layer alpha transformations on top.
-            item.SetMultiplicativeAlpha(Math.Clamp(1.75f - 1.5f * dist, 0, 1));
+            // We are applying alpha to the header here such that we can layer alpha transformations on top.
+            item.Header.Alpha = Math.Clamp(1.75f - 1.5f * dist, 0, 1);
         }
 
         private enum PendingScrollOperation
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/CarouselHeader.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/CarouselHeader.cs
index ed3aea3445..533694b265 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/CarouselHeader.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/CarouselHeader.cs
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select.Carousel
 {
     public class CarouselHeader : Container
     {
-        public Container BorderContainer;
-
         public readonly Bindable<CarouselItemState> State = new Bindable<CarouselItemState>(CarouselItemState.NotSelected);
 
         private readonly HoverLayer hoverLayer;
@@ -37,17 +35,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select.Carousel
             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.X;
             Height = DrawableCarouselItem.MAX_HEIGHT;
 
-            InternalChild = BorderContainer = new Container
+            Masking = true;
+            CornerRadius = corner_radius;
+            BorderColour = new Color4(221, 255, 255, 255);
+
+            InternalChildren = new Drawable[]
             {
-                RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                Masking = true,
-                CornerRadius = corner_radius,
-                BorderColour = new Color4(221, 255, 255, 255),
-                Children = new Drawable[]
-                {
-                    Content,
-                    hoverLayer = new HoverLayer()
-                }
+                Content,
+                hoverLayer = new HoverLayer()
             };
         }
 
@@ -66,21 +61,21 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select.Carousel
                 case CarouselItemState.NotSelected:
                     hoverLayer.InsetForBorder = false;
 
-                    BorderContainer.BorderThickness = 0;
-                    BorderContainer.EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffectParameters
+                    BorderThickness = 0;
+                    EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffectParameters
                     {
                         Type = EdgeEffectType.Shadow,
                         Offset = new Vector2(1),
                         Radius = 10,
-                        Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(100),
+                        Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.5f),
                     };
                     break;
 
                 case CarouselItemState.Selected:
                     hoverLayer.InsetForBorder = true;
 
-                    BorderContainer.BorderThickness = border_thickness;
-                    BorderContainer.EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffectParameters
+                    BorderThickness = border_thickness;
+                    EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffectParameters
                     {
                         Type = EdgeEffectType.Glow,
                         Colour = new Color4(130, 204, 255, 150),
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/DrawableCarouselItem.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/DrawableCarouselItem.cs
index 4a23faa650..5e7ca0825a 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/DrawableCarouselItem.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/Carousel/DrawableCarouselItem.cs
@@ -85,8 +85,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select.Carousel
             };
         }
 
-        public void SetMultiplicativeAlpha(float alpha) => Header.BorderContainer.Alpha = alpha;
-
         protected override void LoadComplete()
         {
             base.LoadComplete();