"from the first time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the earliest point in a timeline. For example, "I knew he was different from the first time I saw him."
"I loved it from the first time," Mr. Schwartz said.
It was a lot different from the first time.
"From the first time I did this I absolutely loved it – it felt meaningful from the first time and it has every time since.
Karolyi said she knew from the first time she watched that videotape that Johnson had potential.
Johnny was a junkie from the first time he ever used.
"I respect him from the first time I walked onto the same court with him.
"I knew, from the first time I saw them, I want to dance like that".
"From the first time he walked into our camp he's been competing with me.
Harry Dean Stanton, as Roman, makes your skin crawl from the first time you see him.
"I always liked her, from the first time I met her," Mr. Bria said.
I was absolutely captivated from the first time that I went.
