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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HIy6SF0bLEQvHasaYvxcDB0x1kDaFB/ANuIRJkNP2NuUSxCPqeJT0to+2W6ldVvK
 Z/RHH0Za6PPr2+nmymxwlw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000003327-03-000128.txt : 20031023
<SEC-HEADER>0000003327-03-000128.hdr.sgml : 20031023
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031023140919
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000003327-03-000128
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031022
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031023

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBERTO CULVER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000003327
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		IRS NUMBER:				362257936
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7084503039

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARRIS KING W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217165

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05050
		FILM NUMBER:		03953788

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 W TERRA COTTA AVE STE E
		CITY:			CRYSTAL LAKE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8154770424

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 W TERRA CITTA AVE STE E
		CITY:			CRYSTAL LAKE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003327</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBERTO CULVER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACV  ACVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRIS KING W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>C</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownership
Nature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>C</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On October 22, 2003, the Board of Directors of Alberto-
Culver Company approved the conversion of all of the issued shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-share-for-one-share basis into Class B Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/James M. Spira/Attorney-in-fact for King Harris</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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