Best predictors of hairloss?

[LookingToLearn]

What are some good, telltale signs early on that you might experience cosmetically significant hair loss? I mean, signs BEFORE the balding starts that might indicate future hair loss?

 

And when hairloss begins, does it happen rapidly? Do you suddenly start waking up with clumps of hair? Does it happen very slowly?

 

The earliest photos of my step-grandpa are from when he was in his mid 50s and he had thin what could probably be called a Norwood Class 3 Vertex or perhaps even a Class IV. He still had sufficient hair to appear as if he had a hairline from the sides and the front, but grew the front hair very long to cover up the loss on the crown. Now, I'd think he'd have had a slow course of hairloss before that, since he was only at Class III or IV by middle age. However, flashforward about 10 years, in his 60s, and he's a Norwood Class VI, which he remained for the rest of his life.

[Spanker]

Time is the best indicator. There is no way to predict, however, areas that begin to miniturize usually go bald eventually.

[chrisdav]

Hair loss is difficult to predict even for the experts.

[MrJobi]

I like Spankers answer. Tough to predict and some people lose their hair rapidly while others recede and then the hairloss stops. Through in the whole age factor and hairloss can come , progress and stop at anytime!