A system and method are provided for manufacturing a coil structure for a magnetic head. Initially, an insulating layer is deposited with a photoresist layer deposited on the insulating layer. Moreover, a silicon dielectric layer is deposited on the photoresist layer as a hard mask. The silicon dielectric layer is then masked. A plurality of channels is subsequently formed in the silicon dielectric layer using reactive ion etching (i.e. CF.sub.4/CHF.sub.3). The silicon dielectric layer is then used as a hard mask to transfer the channel pattern in the photoresist layer using reactive ion etching with, for example, H.sub.2/N.sub.2/CH.sub.3F/C.sub.2H.sub.4 reducing chemistry. To obtain an optimal channel profile with the desired high aspect ratio, channel formation includes a first segment defining a first angle and a second segment defining a second angle. Thereafter, a conductive seed layer is deposited in the channels and the channels are filled with a conductive material to define a coil structure. Chemical-mechanical polishing may then be used to planarize the conductive material.