The hair treatment composition has the Theological properties of an oil but contains non-hydrophobic ingredients. It includes at least one fatty acid glyceride polyalkylene glycol ether or at least one fatty acid partial glyceride polyalkylene glycol ether with at least 30 alkylene glycol units respectively; at least one surfactant different from the at least one fatty acid glyceride polyalkylene glycol ether and the at least one fatty acid partial glyceride polyalkylene glycol ether with at least 30 alkylene glycol units and at least one thickener. The hair treatment composition is dfree of ingredients that cause foaming of the composition prior to or during application to hair. It provides hair to which it is applied with improved hair shaping, long-lasting luster and soft feel. It behaves like an oil, without having an oil in the classical sense as its principal ingredient.