-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EeYLy4pqO6nLrx65ujvWo5plXm5sA/afSiLREuR8u4BGny0EP4f0SAj0VcCVHFry
 KGvw1S5xe7Cti3IdVcaRfg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000003327-03-000161.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0000003327-03-000161.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103160036
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000003327-03-000161
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDGAR JIM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001172310
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05050
		FILM NUMBER:		03973116

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2299 BUSSE ROAD
		CITY:			ELK GROVE VILLAGE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007

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>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003327</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBERTO CULVER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACV  ACVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001172310</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDGAR JIM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1007 W. NEVADA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>URBANA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61801</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>2003-10-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>439.65</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>63.23</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>909.15</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></own
ershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/James M. Spira/Attorney-in-fact for Jim Edgar</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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