<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND> 

                                                             Exhibit 27 (a)

                    ALBERTO-CULVER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        Amended Financial Data Schedule
                         Year Ended September 30, 1997
                              (in thousands)

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated  balance  sheet  as of  September  30,  1997  and the  consolidated
statement of earnings for the year ended  September 30,7 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.


</LEGEND>

<CIK>                                                  0000003327
<NAME>                                                 ALBERTO-CULVER
<MULTIPLIER>                                           1,000
<CURRENCY>                                             US DOLLARS
       
<S>                                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                       OCT-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1.00                                   
                                                       
<CASH>                                                  76,040
<SECURITIES>                                            11,560
<RECEIVABLES>                                          129,816
<ALLOWANCES>                                             9,042
<INVENTORY>                                            343,868
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       580,259
<PP&E>                                                 350,153
<DEPRECIATION>                                         159,155
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       1,000,059
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                  311,252
<BONDS>                                                149,441
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0
<COMMON>                                                13,674
<OTHER-SE>                                             483,330
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         1,000,059


<SALES>                                              1,775,258
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     1,775,258
<CGS>                                                  880,416
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          880,416

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       766,117
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         5,813
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      11,826
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        136,121
<INCOME-TAX>                                            50,704
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     85,417
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0

<NET-INCOME>                                            85,417
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             1.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             1.41
        

</TABLE>