At just 16 months old, Lockland ("Lock") Sample is already a pretty unique kid. The Georgia toddler is always smiling and full of energy, and seems to make friends wherever he goes. But it's not just his bubbly personality that makes Lock an unforgettable face. It's also his "uncombable" hair, which has a one-of-a-kind look that (quite literally) stops people in their tracks.
According to Lock's parents, he started off with jet-black hair
But considering his mom Katelyn has long, dark hair herself, that didn't exactly raise any eyebrows.
It was only when the boy turned 6 months old that things started to change. That was when Lock's dark black mane suddenly turned into what his mom and dad now lovingly refer to as his "peach fuzz."
Lock's new *locks* were suddenly fuzzy, soft, and ... blonde?
Looking back now, both his parents say they were confused.
"We were like, huh, what is this?" Katelyn told PEOPLE. "We knew it was different, but didn't know exactly how."
Then, as the days turned to weeks, Lock's hair just kept growing. (And growing … and growing … and growing.)
But contrary to what his parents might have expected, the baby's hair didn't seem to fill in normally. Instead, it grew straight out, forming a fluffy ball of fuzz that seemed to take on a life of its own.
For several months, the Samples weren't sure what to make of it
When they'd take their son out, he'd get looks, comments, and stares. Sometimes, people would even approach them.
"We can't go anywhere without someone making a comment, whether it's the park or Publix," Katelyn told Fox 5 Atlanta. "People come up to us, they ask to touch it. They're very curious about his hair."
Eventually, that public curiosity wound up paying off
One day, a complete stranger messaged Katelyn on Instagram, asking if her son had been diagnosed with "uncombable hair syndrome."
Suddenly, the Georgia mother's mind began to race.
"I was like, 'Oh my god, what is this? Is something wrong with my baby?'" she told People. "I went into tailspins on Google."
Believe it or not, "Uncombable Hair Syndrome" is a real thing
According to the National Institutes of Health, UHS is a rare genetic disorder that effects the scalp — specifically, the hair shaft — leading a person to grow "silvery blond" or "straw-colored" hair that cannot be combed flat. (Hence it's name.)
It's considered to be an inherited disorder, which can start to appear in babies as young as 3 months or kids as old as 12, but can sometimes "spontaneously regress" during late childhood.
After speaking with her pediatrician, Katelyn was referred to a specialist who confirmed that Lock indeed had UHS. But even though it all suddenly made sense, she was still somewhat shocked.
"You're just going about your day thinking everything's fine and that your kid might have curly hair, which does run in the family," she told People. "And then to hear that there's a rare syndrome associated with your kid — it was crazy."
Luckily, the syndrome only affects Lock's hair
Doctors assured the Samples that the toddler was otherwise developing normally, and that they didn't need to be worried about his health.
Since then, Katelyn has done her best to learn more about the disorder, despite the lack of informationonline. She's also joined a small Facebook group made up of people who either have UHS themselves or have a child who does.
"That's been a great source of comfort, and we share pictures and talk about different things," she shared. "It's cool to see how the older kids' hair has changed over the years — for some people it does not go away, and for others it becomes a little bit more manageable."
For now, the Samples continue to share their son's journey on Instagram
They're also learning how to field unsolicited comments (and looks) from strangers, though Katelyn says about 98% of the people they meet "are so kind."
"They say he's like a little rock star," she shares. "It brings a smile to people's faces."
At the same time, they're also focused on teaching both their sons the importance of loving the hair they each were born with.
"Right now, when he's little, he loves the attention and doesn't mind it," says Katelyn. "But with both of our kids, we want to teach them to be confident in who they are, no matter what makes them different … And that it's cool to stand out a little bit."
