Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a derog. term for a black person.

1983		I.L. Allen Lang. of Ethnic Conflict 47: Allusions to Other Physical Differences: brillo-head [from the brand name of the steel-wool scouring pad. Also wire-head, curly-head].
1984		W. Terry Bloods (1985) 5: We had a Southerner from Arkansas that liked to call you chocolate bunny and Brillo head. That kind of shit.

2. (orig. US campus) a person with very coarse hair.

1989		P. Munro Sl. U.
2001		OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 Brillo n. nickname for a peculiar style of hair favoured by middle-aged balding males who are attempting to disguise the fact that they are losing their hair. Nickname is also used for men who use this hairstyle.