Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a magnetic head that includes negative expansion material. According to one embodiment, the magnetic head includes a read element, a substrate, and at least a partial layer of negative expansion material to control, at least in part, a fly height between an air bearing surface associated with the magnetic head and a disk surface. The material is manganese nitride based and non-insulating and the layer of negative expansion material is parallel to the substrate, according to one embodiment.