A magnetic recording medium and method for forming the magnetic recording medium are described. The magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic layer formed on a non-magnetic support, and a lubricant layer over the magnetic layer. The lubricant layer includes a compound selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl-substituted cyclopentanes, hydrocarbyl-substituted cyclopentenes, hydrocarbyl-substituted cyclopentadienes, and mixtures or derivatives thereof. The lubricant layer also may be used on a magnetic head for reading and writing information on a magnetic recording medium. The magnetic recording medium and the magnetic head may be used to manufacture computer disk drives, compact disk drives, audio equipment, and video equipment.