There are about 100 cases of "uncombable hair" in the world, and this toddler is one of them:
Sixteen-month-old Lock Samples has grown up sticking out.
Okay, that's the kid's real name.
"Lock Samples."
He was either destined to sell security systems or to have very unique locks of hair.
Everywhere the Roswell, Georgia toddler goes, his mother Katelyn Samples says, he turns heads.
"We can't go anywhere without someone making a comment, whether it's the park or Publix," Samples says. "People come up to us, they ask to touch it. They're very curious about his hair."
Lock Samples was born with typical baby hair, just like his big brother Shepherd, who is 3 years old.
But, when he was about 6 months old, Katelyn Samples says, Lock's locks started to take off.
"I was going to my mom and asking her, 'Did I have hair like this," she says, laughing.
When they try to wash it Lock's hair, it was hard to get it wet.
"Then, as soon as we would dry it, it would not lay flat, even if we brushed it," she says. "As soon as it dries, it pops back up."
Through comments on her Instagram account, Katelyn learned about uncombable hair syndrome, where the hair follicles grow out in a triangular shape instead of a smooth round shape. A followup with doctors confirmed the condition.
The result is hair that's like strands of spun glass that refuse to lay flat.
The Samples learned the syndrome doesn't affect Lock's health, and kids with it usually have fine, light-colored, dandelion-like hair.
His mom says his hair is so fragile she cannot use gel or styling products on it without risking breakage.
I feel like I'd rather just cut that hair short.
There are some benefits to not having to brush Lock's hair, though.
"The older one, we have to wrangle him down to get ready and do his hair and brush his teeth, but Locklan wakes up ready to roll," she says.
