ULTA ULTA BEAUTY Return policy. Unable to return unopened hair dryer even though have gift receipt

Your report title was misleading, they did not refuse to accept the return, they just refused to give you cash back.

I don't know what stores you have done returns to, but almost without exception if you have a gift receipt you only get "Store Credit". The advantage to the "Gift Receipt" is that is can then track the purchase back to identify how much was paid and when. Unlike if you tried to return something without a receipt the store has no idea how much was paid or when, or that it was even purchased at their store. Where they would only give you the lowest price paid if they even accept the return at all. As there are several stores that will refuse to do a return at all(cash or store credit) if you do not have some sort of proof of purchase.

If you want to get the cash back, have your DIL send you her ORIGINAL receipt. But even in that case you would only get cash back if she originally paid by cash. If she paid by Credit Card any refund would go back to the card that was used, and again this is STANDARD among stores.  

Do not shop at ULTA unless you are buying for yourself only.
- Or are giving it to someone who shops there and can use the credit if they want to get something else.

I'll just make one additional comment...

My daughter in law bought me a hair dryer in San Angelo Tx ULTA for my Christmas present. She bought at Ulta because I live in rockwall Tx and we have an ULTA here so I would be able to return it.

Not sure if this was intended, but the way you wrote this it sounds like your daughter purchased the dryer knowing you were going to return it. If that was the case it would have been a lot easier to either ask you what you wanted or just send you the cash and avoid the middle-man.