diff --git a/packages/ppx/src/Css_to_runtime.re b/packages/ppx/src/Css_to_runtime.re
index bdca89f23..273de3cd5 100644
--- a/packages/ppx/src/Css_to_runtime.re
+++ b/packages/ppx/src/Css_to_runtime.re
@@ -421,36 +421,59 @@ and render_selectors = (~loc, selectors) => {
   selectors
   |> List.map(((selector, _loc)) => render_selector(~loc, selector));
 }
-and render_style_rule = (~loc, rule: style_rule) => {
-  let (prelude, prelude_loc) = rule.prelude;
+and render_style_rule = (~loc, ~ignore_first_level=false, rule: style_rule) => {
+  let starts_with_double_dot = selector =>
+    String.starts_with(~prefix=":", selector);
+  let contains_ampersand = selector => String.contains(selector, '&');
+
+  let (prelude_ast, prelude_ast_loc) = rule.prelude;
   let selector_location =
-    Styled_ppx_css_parser.Parser_location.intersection(loc, prelude_loc);
+    Styled_ppx_css_parser.Parser_location.update_pos_lnum(
+      prelude_ast_loc,
+      loc,
+    );
 
-  let selector_expr =
+  let declarations =
     render_declarations(~loc, rule.block)
     |> Builder.pexp_array(~loc=selector_location);
 
   let (delimiter, attrs) =
     Platform_attributes.string_delimiter(~loc=selector_location);
 
-  let selector_name =
-    prelude
+  let prelude =
+    prelude_ast
     |> render_selectors(~loc=selector_location)
-    |> List.map(String.trim)
-    |> List.map(
-         String_interpolation.transform(
-           ~attrs,
-           ~delimiter,
-           ~loc=selector_location,
-         ),
-       )
-    |> Builder.pexp_array(~loc=selector_location);
+    |> List.map(String.trim);
 
-  Helper.Exp.apply(
-    ~loc=selector_location,
-    CSS.selectorMany(~loc=selector_location),
-    [(Nolabel, selector_name), (Nolabel, selector_expr)],
-  );
+  let starts_with_double_dot_and_no_ampersand =
+    List.exists(
+      selector => {
+        starts_with_double_dot(selector) && !contains_ampersand(selector)
+      },
+      prelude,
+    );
+  if (!ignore_first_level && starts_with_double_dot_and_no_ampersand) {
+    Error.expr(
+      ~loc=selector_location,
+      "Ampersand is needed if selector begins with pseudo-class or pseudo-element.",
+    );
+  } else {
+    let prelude_transformed =
+      prelude
+      |> List.map(
+           String_interpolation.transform(
+             ~attrs,
+             ~delimiter,
+             ~loc=selector_location,
+           ),
+         )
+      |> Builder.pexp_array(~loc=selector_location);
+    Helper.Exp.apply(
+      ~loc=selector_location,
+      CSS.selectorMany(~loc=selector_location),
+      [(Nolabel, prelude_transformed), (Nolabel, declarations)],
+    );
+  };
 };
 
 let addLabel = (~loc, label, emotionExprs) => [
@@ -552,7 +575,8 @@ If your intent is to apply the declaration to all elements, use the universal se
     ruleList
     |> List.map(rule => {
          switch (rule) {
-         | Style_rule(style_rule) => render_style_rule(~loc, style_rule)
+         | Style_rule(style_rule) =>
+           render_style_rule(~loc, ~ignore_first_level=true, style_rule)
          | At_rule(at_rule) => render_at_rule(~loc, at_rule)
          | _ =>
            Error.expr(~loc=stylesheet_loc, onlyStyleRulesAndAtRulesSupported)
diff --git a/packages/ppx/test/css-support/nested-pseudo-class-or-element-without-ampersand.t/input.re b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/nested-pseudo-class-or-element-without-ampersand.t/input.re
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6cadce8e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/nested-pseudo-class-or-element-without-ampersand.t/input.re
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+let selectors = [%cx
+  {|
+  :hover {
+    color: red;
+  }
+
+  ::first-line {
+    color: red;
+  }
+|}
+];
diff --git a/packages/ppx/test/css-support/nested-pseudo-class-or-element-without-ampersand.t/run.t b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/nested-pseudo-class-or-element-without-ampersand.t/run.t
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cfa2eef3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/nested-pseudo-class-or-element-without-ampersand.t/run.t
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+This test ensures the ppx generates the correct output against styled-ppx.native
+If this test fail means that the module is not in sync with the ppx
+
+  $ cat > dune-project << EOF
+  > (lang dune 3.10)
+  > EOF
+
+  $ cat > dune << EOF
+  > (executable
+  >  (name input)
+  >  (libraries styled-ppx.native)
+  >  (preprocess (pps styled-ppx)))
+  > EOF
+
+  $ dune build
+  File "input.re", lines 2-3, characters 0-9:
+  Error: Ampersand is needed if selector begins with pseudo-class or
+         pseudo-element.
+  [1]
+
+  $ dune describe pp ./input.re | sed '1,/^];$/d'
+  
+  let selectors =
+    CSS.style([|
+      CSS.label("selectors"),
+      [%ocaml.error
+        "Ampersand is needed if selector begins with pseudo-class or pseudo-element."
+      ],
+      [%ocaml.error
+        "Ampersand is needed if selector begins with pseudo-class or pseudo-element."
+      ],
+    |]);
diff --git a/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/input.re b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/input.re
index 486657031..1485af274 100644
--- a/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/input.re
+++ b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/input.re
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ let _chart = [%cx
 
   .recharts-cartesian-grid-horizontal {
     line {
-      :nth-last-child(1), :nth-last-child(2) {
+      &:nth-last-child(1), &:nth-last-child(2) {
         stroke-opacity: 0;
       }
     }
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ let _chart = [%cx
   .recharts-scatter .recharts-scatter-symbol .recharts-symbols {
     opacity: 0.8;
 
-    :hover {
+    &:hover {
       opacity: 1;
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/run.t b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/run.t
index 93aeac4e5..ea3f222ca 100644
--- a/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/run.t
+++ b/packages/ppx/test/css-support/selectors.t/run.t
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ If this test fail means that the module is not in sync with the ppx
             [|{js|line|js}|],
             [|
               CSS.selectorMany(
-                [|{js|:nth-last-child(1)|js}, {js|:nth-last-child(2)|js}|],
+                [|{js|&:nth-last-child(1)|js}, {js|&:nth-last-child(2)|js}|],
                 [|CSS.SVG.strokeOpacity(`num(0.))|],
               ),
             |],
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ If this test fail means that the module is not in sync with the ppx
         |],
         [|
           CSS.opacity(0.8),
-          CSS.selectorMany([|{js|:hover|js}|], [|CSS.opacity(1.)|]),
+          CSS.selectorMany([|{js|&:hover|js}|], [|CSS.opacity(1.)|]),
         |],
       ),
     |]);
diff --git a/packages/ppx/test/native/Selector_test.re b/packages/ppx/test/native/Selector_test.re
index 0d3fd3c71..b63aa8187 100644
--- a/packages/ppx/test/native/Selector_test.re
+++ b/packages/ppx/test/native/Selector_test.re
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ let loc = Location.none;
 
 let simple_tests = [
   (
-    ":before { display: none; }",
-    [%expr [%cx ":before { display: none; }"]],
+    "&:before { display: none; }",
+    [%expr [%cx "&:before { display: none; }"]],
     [%expr
       CSS.style([|
-        CSS.selectorMany([|{js|:before|js}|], [|CSS.display(`none)|]),
+        CSS.selectorMany([|{js|&:before|js}|], [|CSS.display(`none)|]),
       |])
     ],
   ),
@@ -465,12 +465,12 @@ let complex_tests = [
     ],
   ),
   (
-    ":is(h1, $(gap), h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4))",
-    [%expr [%cx {| :is(h1, $(gap), h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4)) {} |}]],
+    "&:is(h1, $(gap), h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4))",
+    [%expr [%cx {| &:is(h1, $(gap), h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4)) {} |}]],
     [%expr
       CSS.style([|
         CSS.selectorMany(
-          [|{js|:is(h1, |js} ++ gap ++ {js|, h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4))|js}|],
+          [|{js|&:is(h1, |js} ++ gap ++ {js|, h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4))|js}|],
           [||],
         ),
       |])
diff --git a/packages/runtime/test/test_styles.ml b/packages/runtime/test/test_styles.ml
index adb4291d6..70e0a1323 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/test/test_styles.ml
+++ b/packages/runtime/test/test_styles.ml
@@ -78,11 +78,11 @@ let avoid_hash_collision =
       {|
          color: $(color);
 
-         :disabled {
+         &:disabled {
            color: $(disabledColor);
          }
 
-         :hover {
+         &:hover {
            color: $(hoverColor);
          }
        |}]
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ let avoid_hash_collision =
       {|
          display: flex;
 
-         :before,
-         :after {
+         &:before,
+         &:after {
            content: '';
            flex: 0 0 $(padding);
          }
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ let avoid_hash_collision =
       {|
          display: flex;
 
-         :before,
-         :after {
+         &:before, 
+         &:after {
            content: '';
            flex: 0 1 $(padding);
          }
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ let ampersand_everywhere_2 =
           display: none;
         }
       }
-      :first-child {
+      &:first-child {
         .felipe & {
           display: none;
         }
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ let ampersand_everywhere_3 =
         padding: 0;
         list-style-type: none;
 
-        :first-child {
+        &:first-child {
           .$(hasTwoColumnList) & {
             @media $(desktopDown) {
               padding-bottom: $(px16);
@@ -342,9 +342,9 @@ let pseudo_selectors_everywhere =
       {|
         display: block;
 
-        ::before {
+        &::before {
           display: none;
-          ::after {
+          &::after {
             display: none;
           }
         }
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ let selector_nested_with_mq_and_declarations =
       li {
        list-style-type: none;
 
-       ::before {
+       &::before {
          position: absolute;
          left: -20px;
          content: "✓";
@@ -581,11 +581,11 @@ let functional_pseudo =
     [%cx
       {|
         .foo, .bar {
-          :is(ol, ul, menu:unsupported) :is(ol, ul) {
+          &:is(ol, ul, menu:unsupported) :is(ol, ul) {
             color: green;
           }
 
-          :is(ol, ul) :is(ol, ul) ol {
+          &:is(ol, ul) :is(ol, ul) ol {
             list-style-type: lower-greek;
             color: chocolate;
           }
@@ -598,16 +598,16 @@ let functional_pseudo =
             color: darkmagenta;
           }
 
-          :where(ol, ul, menu:unsupported) :where(ol, ul) {
+          &:where(ol, ul, menu:unsupported) :where(ol, ul) {
             color: green;
           }
 
-          :where(ol, ul) :where(ol, ul) ol {
+          &:where(ol, ul) :where(ol, ul) ol {
             list-style-type: lower-greek;
             color: chocolate;
           }
 
-          :is(h1, h2, h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4)) {
+          &:is(h1, h2, h3):has(+ :is(h2, h3, h4)) {
             margin: 0 0 0.25rem 0;
           }
 
@@ -746,8 +746,8 @@ let selector_nested_with_pseudo_2 =
     [%cx
       {|
          position: relative;
-         :hover {
-           ::after {
+         &:hover {
+           &::after {
              top: 50px;
            }
          }
@@ -1125,19 +1125,19 @@ let pseudo_selectors =
        padding-bottom: 9px;
        border-radius: 0;
 
-       ::placeholder {
+       &::placeholder {
          color: currentColor;
        }
 
-       :hover {
+       &:hover {
          border: 1px solid transparent;
        }
 
-       :focus {
+       &:focus {
          outline: none;
        }
 
-       :disabled {
+       &:disabled {
          color: transparent;
        }|}]
   in
@@ -1161,8 +1161,8 @@ let real_world =
            &.$(buttonActive) {
              margin: 0px;
 
-             ::before,
-             ::after {
+             &::before,
+             &::after {
                top: 40px;
              }
            }
@@ -1215,7 +1215,7 @@ let global_with_selector =
   test "global_with_selector" @@ fun () ->
   [%global
     {| html { line-height: 1.15; }
-    a { :hover { padding: 0; } }
+    a { &:hover { padding: 0; } }
    |}];
   let css = get_string_style_rules () in
   assert_string css