A magnetic head structure having enhanced protrusion and having a first pole structure, a second pole structure forming a yoke with the fist pole, a coil structure disposed in the yoke, and a layer of partially cured polymer operatively coupled to the yoke. Also disclosed is a magnetic head having a first pole structure, a second pole structure forming a yoke with the fist pole, a coil structure disposed in the yoke, and a layer of at least partially insulative material operatively coupled to the read and/or write head for providing enhanced protrusion, the at least partially insulative material having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than a coefficient of thermal expansion of fully cured hard bake novalac. Further embodiments include disk drive systems having the head structures described herein.