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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FmoL1uT2JlNc/oCpWTwKiCWi55ArdFabgXg0Z1axPfMrhuf4CDC4FMV6sTDYZN25
 QV7kAklke/H1GSSC9p3Tgg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000003327-04-000003.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0000003327-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123110132
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000003327-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

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:		04539486

	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>2004-01-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003327</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBERTO CULVER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACV</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><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (Right To Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>62.235</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlying
SecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option, which was granted under the 2003 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, vests in four equal annual installments beginning on January 21, 2005.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/James M. Spira/Attorney-in-fact for Jim Edgar</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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