Quick answer
Do I need ghusl after my period ends?
Yes. Once the signs of purity appear, ghusl al-ḥayḍ is obligatory before resuming prayer, fasting, recitation of Qurʾān, and intimacy. There is consensus on this across the four madhhabs.
Yes. Performing ghusl al-ḥayḍ after the signs of purity is obligatory across the four madhhabs. Until ghusl is performed, the woman remains in a state of major ritual impurity (ḥadath akbar) — even though the bleeding has ended.
The minimum required for a valid ghusl is: (1) intention (niyyah) to lift the ḥadath of ḥayḍ, (2) thoroughly washing every part of the outer body so that water reaches the skin, including the roots of the hair on the scalp, the navel, the inside of the ears, and between the toes.
The Sunnah method, narrated from the Prophet ﷺ, adds: beginning with bismillāh, washing the hands three times, washing the private parts, performing wuḍū as for prayer, pouring water over the head three times working it into the roots of the hair, then pouring water over the rest of the body — starting with the right side, then the left.
Worship — prayer, fasting, recitation from the muṣḥaf, ṭawāf, and intimacy — resumes after ghusl is completed, not at the moment the signs of purity appear. If purity returns just before fajr or maghrib, perform ghusl promptly so the prayer is not missed.
This summary draws on the established positions of the four Sunni madhhabs. For your specific situation, consult a qualified scholar.
Go deeper
Ghusl after menstruation: step-by-step