Gradient Tool makes solid sides?!

[LCPFunnyGirl]

I know it's weird but hear me out. So, I want to be able to be able to color with a gradient appearance on a traced object (it was a closed object btw) that I created, but when I go and use the gradient tool, not only does the annotator not appear but the end result looks like 2 solid lines instead of a gradient. At one point, it seemed just fine. I was even able to do that same thing to multiple selections and they've all worked out nicely so IDK what happened or what to do about this. Any idea on why this is happening? Here's an example of what I'm looking for with the first one: the hair flows on one stroke of gradience.

But now, whenever I do the tool, it looks like this even with just one selected object: 

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Are you using Live Paint? It can behave strange with gradients.

If so, try if it works with Live Paint expanded.

[LCPFunnyGirl]

Yay! It works! It actually works! Thank u so much! :3

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped!

[Ton Frederiks]

And you can vote here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/35930962-adjustment-of-...