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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WynKcUIGRYmv5nqFKefxWn44bsiLVj+JRIPgZasVpUSpJ7zQSn3A9mOk4ahrPxEb
 cV6VC2VZPehRNeQFX/iRMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000003327-03-000164.txt : 20031106
<SEC-HEADER>0000003327-03-000164.hdr.sgml : 20031106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031106141135
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000003327-03-000164
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WIRTZ WILLIAM W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174726

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05050
		FILM NUMBER:		03981909

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WIRTZ CORP
		STREET 2:		680 NORTH LAKE SHORE DR STE 1900
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60611

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
</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>2003-11-04</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003327</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBERTO CULVER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACV  ACVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174726</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WIRTZ WILLIAM W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>680 N. LAKE SHORE DRIVE 19TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60611</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>11.844</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></owne
rshipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>625</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>39.18</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15625</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransact
ionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>582000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN1 </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.844</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAm
ounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-10-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>39.18</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding
><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>625</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-01-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-01-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1875</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Owned by the Wirtz Corporation of which William W. Wirtz is President, Director and Shareholder.**
*</footnote><footnote id="F2">The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on October 31, 1995</footnote><footnote id="F3">On October 22, 2003, the Board of Directors of Alberto-Culver Company (the &quot;Company&quot;) 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 (the &quot;Conversion&quot;).  The Conversion will become effective November 5, 2003.  The options reported on this form were originally granted as options to purchase Class A Common Stock.  Because the only condition remaining to complete the conversion is the passage of time, the reported exercise has been reported as Class B Common Stock.</footnote></footnotes><remarks>***The filing of this report shall not be deemed an admission by me that I am the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</remarks><owner
Signature><signatureName>/James M. Spira/Attorney-in-fact for William W. Wirtz</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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