A method and apparatus for providing a dual current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) GMR sensor with improved top pinning is disclosed. In the passive regions of the sensor, a tri-level biasing layer is formed proximate to the top self-pinned layer. The tri-level biasing layer includes a first metal oxide layer, a layer of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 and a second metal oxide layer. The pinning of the top self-pinned layer is enhanced by the layer of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. The layer of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 pins the top portion of the pinned layer by providing higher coercivity (H.sub.C) to the pinned layer.