Perpendicular write head with laminated side shields

A perpendicular write head comprising:

• a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing side, a leading side that is opposite the trailing side, and first and second sides;
• side gaps, wherein the side gaps are proximate the write pole along the first and second side edges;
• and
• side shields proximate the side gaps, wherein the side shields have gap facing surfaces and comprise at least five sets of alternating layers of magnetic and non-magnetic materials, wherein the material that makes up the gap facing surfaces at the air bearing surface is magnetic material and the magnetic and non-magnetic layers are stacked on each other traveling away from the air bearing surface.

A method of forming laminated side shields comprising the steps of:

• forming a conductive seedlayer;
• forming a block that encapsulates the conductive seedlayer, the block having vertical side walls and a top;
• forming a layer of magnetic material on at least one of the vertical side walls of the block by electroplating;
• and
• forming a layer of non-magnetic material on the layer of magnetic material by electroplating.