Current distal to media facing surface

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a trailing shield disposed at a media facing surface (MFS);
• a main pole disposed adjacent to the trailing shield at the MFS;
• a leading shield disposed adjacent to the main pole at the MFS;
• a trailing side lead disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, the trailing side lead being recessed from the MFS, wherein a first portion of the trailing side lead is disposed in contact with the main pole;
• a trailing side insulating layer disposed between and in contact with a second portion of the trailing side lead and the main pole, the trailing side insulating layer being recessed from the MFS;
• a leading side lead disposed between the main pole and the leading shield, the leading side lead being recessed from the MFS, wherein a first portion of the leading side lead is disposed in contact with the main pole;
• and
• a leading side insulating layer disposed between and in contact with a second portion of the leading side lead and the main pole, the leading side insulating layer being recessed from the MFS.

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a trailing shield disposed at a media facing surface (MFS);
• a main pole disposed adjacent to the trailing shield at the MFS;
• a first lead disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, the first lead being recessed from the MFS, wherein a first portion of the first lead is disposed in contact with the main pole, wherein a second portion of the first lead has a greater thickness than the first portion, and wherein the first lead comprises one or more layers of materials selected from the group consisting of Cu, Cr, Au, and a combination thereof;
• and
• a first insulating layer disposed between and in contact with the second portion of the first lead and the main pole, the first insulating layer being recessed from the MFS.