FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * LAVIN LEONARD H /IL/   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ALBERTO CULVER CO [ACV] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O ALBERTO-CULVER COMPANY, 2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/17/2005 (Street) MELROSE PARK, IL 60160 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock               150,300 I FN3 FN8 (3) (8) Common Stock               80,010 I FN5 FN8 (5) (8) Common Stock 01/17/2005   J   688,265 D (10) 1,159,361 I FN7 FN8 (7) (8) Common Stock 01/17/2005   J   688,265 D (9) 840,639 I FN1 FN8 (1) (8) Common Stock               80,010 I FN6 FN8 (6) (8) Common Stock               80,010 I FN4 FN8 (4) (8) Common Stock               80,010 I FN2 FN8 (2) (8)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
LAVIN LEONARD H /IL/ C/O ALBERTO-CULVER COMPANY 2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE MELROSE PARK, IL 60160	X	X

Signatures

/James M. Spira/Attorney-in-fact for Leonard H. Lavin		01/18/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Held by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for his benefit.
(2)	Held by the undersigned's spouse as co-trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***
(3)	Held by the undersigned's spouse as co-trustee of a trust dated 10/20/72 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's children.***
(4)	Held by the undersigned's spouse as co-trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***
(5)	Held by the undersigned's spouse as co-trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***
(6)	Held by the undersigned's spouse as co-trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***
(7)	Held by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for the benefit of the undersigned's spouse.***
(8)	On January 21, 2004, the Board of Directors of Alberto-Culver Company approved a 50% stock dividend to holders of record on the close of business on February 2, 2004, payable on February 20, 2004. The transactions and holdings on this Form 4 reflects the 50% stock dividend.
(9)	Transferred by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for his benefit to a limited partnership.
(10)	Transferred by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for the benefit of the undersigned's spouse to a limited partnership.***
Remarks: ***The filing of this report shall not be deemed an admission by the undersigned that he is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

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