An automotive seat assembly is provided including a seatbase defining a seatbase plane and a seatback defining a seatback plane. A head restraint support member is configured to extend vertically from the seatback. The head restraint support member has a vertical extension portion extending generally parallel to the seatback plane, at least one horizontal travel arm generally perpendicular to the seatback plane, and a horizontal base arm. A head restraint inner structure engages the at least one horizontal travel arm and is movable linearly to a plurality of positions along the at least one horizontal travel arm. An active head restraint element is mounted to the head restraint inner structure and the horizontal base arm and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The active head restraint element moves the head restraint inner structure to a head restraint forward position in response to moving into the deployed position. The active head restraint restraint element is biased towards the deployed position. A trigger element retains the active head restraint element in the stowed position and releases the active head restraint element during vehicle impact.