A method and apparatus providing a stabilized top shield in a read head used for the longitudinal or perpendicular magnetic recording is disclosed. The top shield includes a laminate structure including at least three layers of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic films in a frame. Unidirectional anisotropy induced at the interface of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic films is optimized by selecting suitable compositions and thicknesses to achieve the stabilization of the top shield while maintaining high permeability. In an alternative method, the top shield includes a ferromagnetic Ni--Fe film in a central region and multiple layers comprising ferromagnetic Co--Fe and Ni--Fe layers and an antiferromagnetic layer. Unidirectional anisotropy induced at the interfaces of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers by selecting suitable compositions and thicknesses of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers to achieve the stabilization of the top shield through magnetostatic interactions between the central and side regions.