Compound Path Trouble in CS3

I'm working on a tracing project and haven't had a hitch.  Until now.
I'm working on tracing, filling and colouring hair and have been using the compound path tool for chopping out areas.
This has been successful for the entirety of the project until suddenly it doesn't work any longer.  I'm not sure if I've accidentally altered the
hair/compound path in some fundamental way but here's the problem as it appears:
Previously, I'd draw the shape I wanted deleted, select the shape and the hair, and bingo--the shape disappears.
Now, the shape does not disappear.  I've tried a few different things to discover what I may have done wrong for this to suddenly not work the way
it did just before but I can't figure out what I've done.
I've tried the subtract shape in Pathfinders, but this doesn't seem to quite work very well.
I don't know what I've done wrong and could rally use some advice from the gurus here on the forum.
I hope I've provided enough bacjground to give an idea as to what the problem might be to those more better informed than I am.

Thanks for the suggestion, Wade.  It seems what I needed to do was release and recreate the compound path.
I really appreciate you taking the time to look into it!

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